The Nature and Origins of Scientism

Abstract

Fr. John Wellmuth, S.J. has chosen a timely topic. Our age is suffering under disease of 'scientism' which has wasted many an outstanding mind and which has for a long time been blocking way to a sound metaphysics as science (in Medieval sense). Scientism is defined as the belief that science, in modern sense of that term, and scientific method as described by modern scientists, afford only reliable natural means of acquiring such knowledge as may be available about whatever is real (p. 1-2). The further explanations and characterizations of scientism are clear and very useful. What has been called 'inductive Metaphysics' falls also under diagnosis of scientism. About extent of it, and infection of even some Neo-Scholastics by it, Fr. Pacificus Borgmann, O.F.M. has published a thorough investigation in Franziskanische Studien (1934, pp. 80-103; 125-150): Gegenstand, Erfahrungs-grundlage und Methode der Metaphysik. Eine wissenschafts,theoretische Auseinandersetzung mit August Messer.