Showing papers in "Zygon in 1975"

The dilemma of science and morals.

Abstract: The conflicts between science and morals which still continue to arise despite the apparent hegemony of atheistic scientism over traditional JudeoChristianity in the twentieth century reflect a basic contradiction in the metaphysical foundation of Western lives. As was set forth by Machiavelli, the contradiction inherent in Western ethics is that it is based on the simultaneous belief in both Objectively valid moral truths and purely relatiue values of communal purpose. The achievements of twentieth century science have intensified these contradictions. Modern physics has put in question the validity of its own metaphysical basis, namely the belief in Natural Law, and modern biology has been unable to come to terms with the Cartesian dualism of body and soul. By contrast, Chinese lives are comparatively free of these contradictions, being founded on the philosophies of Confucianism and Taoism, to which the concepts of objectively valid truth or Natural Law are foreign. Recent developments in Western attitudes regarding science and morals can be interpreted as a movement away from the traditional belief in absolute truths towards a Chinese relativism. EVER since the 16th century, when Francis Bacon put forward the then novel creed that science provides a hope for a better world, there have arisen conflicts between science and morals. But right from the very start of modern science and with the case of its founder Galileo, these conflicts were always resolved in favor of science in the long run. By the end of the 19th century the triumph of science over traditional and particularly religious morals seemed so complete that God was found to be dying. Faith in Him came to be replaced by scientism, or the belief that ethical insights, formerly based on metaphysical concepts, could now be derived from objective scientific knowledge. But despite the seeming hegemony of scientism in the everyday life of contemporary secular societies there not only still arise some troublesome conflicts between science and morals but the credibility of the Baconian creed of salvation through science is itself fast losing ground in its Western heartland. This latter-day growth of anti-scientific attitudes is as serious as it is surprising, because far from its reflecting the views of ignorant rabble-rousers or religious zealots, it is occurring among the young intellectuals of the New Left. That is to say, it has infested the minds of the very group that would ordinarily furnish the recruits for the next generation of scientists. Alarmed by this development, the Old Guard has been defending the Baconian creed by means of righteous sermons. But these sermons have little effect; their language of indignant reason does not reach the ears of the young infidels and does no more than preserve the courage of the True Believers.