Scientific rationalism shades into the very faith it claims to dismiss

Evidence

If this principle is not true, every attempt to arrive at general scientific laws from particular observations is fallacious, and Hume’s scepticism is inescapable for an empiricist. The principle itself cannot, of course, without circularity, be inferred from observed uniformities, since it is required to justify any such inference. It must therefore be, or be deduced from, an independent principle not based upon experience. To this extent, Hume has proved that pure empiricism is not a sufficient basis for science. — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 2451 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Rather than these developments taking us “beyond modernity,” they provide a fuller understanding of the reflexivity inherent in modernity itself. Modernity is not only unsettling because of the circularity of reason, but because the nature of that circularity is ultimately puzzling. How can we justify a commitment to reason in the name of reason? — Anthony Giddens, The Consequences of Modernity, 124 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Despite having written essays on the “end of ideology,” they unabashedly admitted the inter- connection between ideology and science and made a case—a remarkably successful case, as it turned out—for their own way of viewing the world and proceeding within it. The task for those who believe that current versions of cultural studies corrupt or compromise democratic practice is not to retreat into value-free objectivist science but to unearth, make explicit, and critique the moral and political commitments in their own contingent work. — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 435 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim
• XREF: connects to: Maintaining core moral beliefs requires faith, not causal explanation — Philip Chase Bobbitt, Reflections Inspired by My Critics, 896; Faith offers an understanding of life that contrasts with rational knowledge. — Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, 118; Faith has importance in providing meaning to life. — Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, 184 (+11 more)

Related

• Science relies entirely on an induction principle that empiricism cannot prove (similarity 0.82)
• Ancient scepticism failed because it offered no positive intellectual alternative (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Science relies entirely on an induction principle that empiricism cannot prove #exemplifies (0.85) — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 2451
• Modernity’s reflexivity makes its own rational grounds ultimately puzzling #corroborates (0.85) — Anthony Giddens, The Consequences of Modernity, 124
• Faith offers an understanding of life that contrasts with rational knowledge. #expands (0.60) — Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, 118
• Intellectuals must admit ideology rather than claim value-free science #expands (0.60) — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 435
• Constitutional conscience depends on faith, else it degenerates into expediency #expands (0.55) — Philip Chase Bobbitt, Reflections Inspired by My Critics, 402
• Convergent correlational evidence should justify action absent perfect scientific certainty #qualifies (0.50) — Harriet A. Washington, A Terrible Thing to Waste, 50
• Faith has importance in providing meaning to life. #qualifies (0.40) — Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, 184
• Literary-critical skepticism about scripture prevents mass murder #corroborates (0.40)