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Documentary Film Analysis

C. S. Lewis was a critic of scientism, which he viewed as a materialistic ideology that wrongly equates science with the only valid form of knowledge, while he acknowledged the importance of science. He argued that science could become a belief system, lead to gullibility, and be used as a tool for power, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations in scientific pursuits. Lewis believed that philosophy, ethics, and the arts are essential for a comprehensive understanding of the world beyond scientific explanations.

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26 views3 pages

Documentary Film Analysis

C. S. Lewis was a critic of scientism, which he viewed as a materialistic ideology that wrongly equates science with the only valid form of knowledge, while he acknowledged the importance of science. He argued that science could become a belief system, lead to gullibility, and be used as a tool for power, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations in scientific pursuits. Lewis believed that philosophy, ethics, and the arts are essential for a comprehensive understanding of the world beyond scientific explanations.

Uploaded by

lefnrayt
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Documentary Film Analysis

The Magician’s Twin:


C. S. Lewis and the Case
Against Scientism

Felrene May Miano


Nica Loise Sasan

Prof. Jerold Rosalita


STS- GE 5 (598)

Rate:______
1. Why was C. S Lewis very much a skeptic and critic of scientism? Was he
against science?

C. S Lewis was opposed to an ideology which is his view had been


confused with science. It was a particular materialistic approach which
wanted to reduce everything that could learn scientifically to materialistic
causes blind. But he said this approach is too narrow and ignores the fact
there are other ways we can understand our world through philosophy,
ethics and the arts. He was not against science, he was opposed to
scientism that the methods are natural science should be the bar by
which every other intellectual discipline must be held. Lewis thought that
science could be corrupted and that some people could pursue science
because they wanted power over the world and power over other people
in particular.

He understood the importance of science and its contributions to


human knowledge and progress. Still, he came to see how blinded we
were from this truth through the idolization of science (where scientific
methods and findings are only true ways in which reality can be grasped).
Lewis thought that this outlook could ultimately tempt people to ignore
the moral and philosophical questions that are essential to human life.

2. How did C. S Lewis explain the following:

A. Science as religion
For Lewis, science acted as a religion that provides the same sense
of purpose and meaning traditionally provided by religious beliefs. He said
that while religion looks to understand the supernatural and tackle
fundamental questions about human existence, some people see science
as sort of religious analogy. This is what happens when people have too
much faith in scientific explanations and turn them into emphatic, like
using science as an absolute truth without asking about its limitation or
the philosophical implications of it. Thus, science can become a belief
system that explains the universe, much like a religion.
B. Science as credulity
Lewis pointed out that relying on scientific authority can make us
gullible. He argued that people might accept scientific claims without
questioning or thinking critically, just because they are from a scientific
source. This blind acceptance can lead to an inability to judge the
truthfulness of scientific statements, making individuals more likely to
believe in ideas that may not have strong evidence. Lewis informed that
this gullibility goes against the core principle of scientific inquiry, which
should be based on questioning and skepticism.

C. Science as power
Lewis emphasize the potential for scientific knowledge to be used as
a tool for control and domination. He pointed out that scientific
advancements can lead to significant power over nature and humanity,
which can be both advantageous and harmful. The ability to manipulate
the natural world through technology and scientific understanding can
create ethical dilemmas, especially when such power is used irresponsibly
or without moral consideration. Lewis informed that the pursuit of
scientific knowledge should be accompanied by a strong ethical
framework to prevent the misuse of that power.

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