Reconsideration of Science and Technology: A Philosophy of Science and Technology Leading to Pluralism and Openness

Abstract

Two opposing trends shape contemporary understandings of science and technology. One is scientism, arguing that science is reasonable and characterized by a defense of science and the other, anti-scientism, strongly criticizing science and technology as harmful to the modern world. This article argues that both positions have limitations, and a stance of critical reconsideration (shendu) toward science should be adopted. Marx’s analysis of science and technology offers rich insights, adopts a unique historical-practical perspective, and provides an important benchmark for this reconsideration. This article advocates a comprehensive framework of values that is both pluralistic and complementary to navigate a dynamic tension between objectivity and uniqueness, between universality and locality, between rationality and irrationality, and between instrumental rationality and value rationality. This pluralistic and open philosophy of science and technology aims to realize the unity of pursuing truth, aspiring to goodness, attaining beauty, and reaching sagacity through the interaction and integration between science and the humanities, including ethics, religion, art, and faith.

Keywords

scientism / anti-scientism / reconsideration of science and technology / pluralistic and complementary

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Higher Education Press