Where are the promised benefits of scientific materialism?

Question

How has it solved through rationalization and discourse the fundamental issues related to human governance and development? In spite of its undeniable advances in medicine, better food, better education, better living conditions since early in the 20th century, how has the view that people are essentially self-interested actors in matters pertaining to their economic well-being; and that the building of just and prosperous societies can be ensured by one or another schemes of what is described as modernization played out? Far from narrowing the gap between the well-being of the small segment of the human family who enjoy the benefits of modernity and the condition of the vast populations mired in hopeless want, the collective effort that began with such high hopes has seen the gap widen into an abyss. Disillusionment and utter hopelessness reign in the hearts of the majority of the world’s people. Where are the promised benefits?

Please stick to the topic and avoid tangents.

Neo, you did exactly what I asked you not to do: switch topics

X-theist, Although we all do it occasionally, it’s better not to get too much exercise jumping to conclusions. If you’ll avoid assumptions about alleged weakness in my science background, I’ll avoid pointing out the obvious about your reading skills. See also comment to practicalthought.

Fourmorebeers, Brought peace? my question in a nutshell.

Gazoo, I’m wondering about your reading skills too, however your last sentence shows some insight. Good that you realize this.

Tonal9, Undoubtedly.

Monodogamous, you’re cookin’. The technology is in place for planetary unity. The political will is not.

Practicalthought, Unequivocally, there are gazillions of laudable efforts and benefits of science. It’s the ephemeral nature of scientific materialism’s goals that concerns me. Science is not the same thing as scientific materialism. Appreciate your upbeat thinking otherwise.

Eri, if scientific materialism, which isn’t the same as science itself, has done all it promised, you and I must not live on the same planet.

NHBaritone, did you get some good exercise from your jumping to conclusions in your first paragraph? Otherwise, thanks for looking stuff up, though citing the convenient wikipedia, which anyone can edit, is dicey. Those predictions were all the rage in the blush and flush of scientific materialism of the early 20th century. Today’s consumer culture is by default the inheritor of materialisms gospel of human betterment. Since when in the modern age has scientific endeavor not served corporate or government interests? The defense industry outspends all on scientific research. We could only wish and dream it weren’t so.

Martin, thanks for the excellent article. I take issue only with the Christian assertion that they have a monopoly on, and exclusive access to the source of all being, god. No offense intended, but probably (?) taken nonetheless, there is just too much evidence against that assertion. I would have to say that we are separated by god from turning away from god’s universal educators, a disastrous choice, since in their progressive teachings/words lie the recipe to avoid the follies of the arrogance of human ignorance and to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization that embraces scientific method, but not scientific bias.

Kdude421, you make some good observations, but spreading the awareness of such problems has so far failed -- and it has had decades to sink in -- to inspire folks to muster up the will to act and change their self-indulgent lifestyles bought at the expense of the poor on the planet. Besides, folks have no viable channel through which to act on a global level even if they could muster up the will.

Tsumego, undoubtedly, unequivocally science is good. My question to your very last statement is, to what source does humanity turn for the high standard of the necessary morality and political will to which you refer?

Answer 1

Scientific materialism doesn't address the real problem with mankind, that we are separated from God by our sins. Some scientists already know and admit this. Here's a quote from a scientist who was talking about why science cannot abandon the notion that life arose through purely natural means.

Professor Richard Lewontin, a geneticist (and self-proclaimed Marxist), is a renowned champion of neo-Darwinism, and certainly one of the world’s leaders in promoting evolutionary biology. He recently wrote this very revealing comment (the italics were in the original). It illustrates the implicit philosophical bias against Genesis creation regardless of whether or not the facts support it:

"We take the side of science in spite of the patent absurdity of some of its constructs, in spite of its failure to fulfil many of its extravagant promises of health and life, in spite of the tolerance of the scientific community for unsubstantiated just-so stories, because we have a prior commitment, a commitment to materialism. It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our a priori adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how counter-intuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated. Moreover, that materialism is an absolute, for we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door."

Answer 2

Hmmm.... I imagine you would prefer a world without modern medicine (i.e., younger deaths and more suffering), poor food (even more famine), worse education (greater superstition and subjugation by dictators), worse living conditions (I imagine that you own a television, microwave and computer).

You've confused an economic theory with the philosophy that there is no supernatural force intervening in the universe (the definition of scientific materialism). In fact, the Wikipedia article on Naturalism (scientific materialism) doesn't even contain the words "economy" or "economics." Capitalistic economists has asserted the "individual well-being" theory, which has been shown to be overly simplistic, but does at least make some accurate predictions. (THAT by the way is the only promise: Can a theory make meaningful predictions?)

The promises that you describe were those made by the supply-side economists that took the reigns during the Reagan administration and have pretty much run things ever since. Even Clinton was not far from that way of thinking, although he did think it was worthwhile to balance the US budget.

If you have some citations that suggest scientific materialism has anything to do with economic theory, say so. Otherwise, you're sounding like you're the one who has mixed topics and is off on a tangent.

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Answer 3

Granted that the basic needs of a lot of people in the world are not currently met, the constant increase in technology will allow these needs to be met by improving the way items are manufactured, making necessities cheaper. For instance, if technology was more advanced in the areas of transportation, medicine, and say the agricultural industries, then food and medicine could be exported to areas that needed them most faster and more reliably, all with a lower cost. Think of the increase in the technology of alternative fuels that will improve the atmosphere of the earth. How does technology not improve the world?

You raise a point with the increase in the self-involvement of people obsessed with money. Money has always been sought out and the whole modernization thing isn't anything new to history. Think of the social classes of the past. In Roman times, it was a sign of high class to have a source of running fresh water in your home. Otherwise, people would have to use the local Bath houses. People wanted to have the best and greed has always been a factor in society. I doubt any form of technology could eliminate that. However, the economic differences between social classes has been reduced in recent times, along with a social revolution focused on equality.

the increase in technology will bring humanity together on a global scale. Think of how we are so well connected now, with all the different types of media being constantly streamed across the globe. With this, we can monitor situations worldwide and be aware of problems that we can all work toward a solution. How is technology harming people, really? What you think is attributed to technology is really caused by people and not new things. True that people must have the latest items, such as a video ipod or a big screen tv, while others suffer, but is that really any different from any other previous civilization? You say that technology promised to correct this, but we cannot correct the greed and lack of empathy in humans. However, by spreading the awareness of said problems, perhaps we can muster enough people and will power to change the world for good, all with the help of technology.

Answer 4

I'd say no; atheists don't always deny faith at the groundwork of an incapability to degree it. It may also be on grounds of irrational commandments, or elementary confrontation with one of the crucial suggestions set down within the Bible. Plus, Dogmatic Scientific Materialism calls for a notion in technological know-how with a zeal very similar to that with which a devout person will consider of their faith. I'm certain every body -can- be pigeon-holed in phrases of ideals if you are taking adequate time approximately it, however you'll be able to want a minimum of 30,000 specific definitions, I suspect! ;)

Answer 5

Our commerce structured society has many
advancements in technology, so much so
that an explosion of population has manifested a noticeable dependency.
By this might I add, people live longer, people work less harder, in a more of a risk controlled environment compared to prior
history.
At the end of the day if one looks at society
in a birds eye view the actual benefit is our point in these technological times as a society at the present and nothing more.
How we can keep this balance of this structure and know how to control the ramifications of our actions to keep a balance in the future is the big question.

Answer 6

Science has brought order to chaos, science has brought reasoning and civilisation to mankind. It has touched every aspect of every person's life, your lighting, your computer, you hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter's day. Mankind owes science everything. Scientific reasoning and discussion brought diplomacy, diplomacy brought about democracy and order to many a wartorn land in the past, but its influence is waning in the modern times. It can no longer bring peace and order to conflict like it once can, the human mind has become its undoing. Religious moralism and conflict has toughened the minds and hearts of man to the point where scientific reasoning to them has no more meaning; it has brought back the chaos of ages past - killing of a fellow man just because of his belief, runs parallel to the Crusade massacres between Catholicism and Islam. It is not science that has failed man, it is man's concept of unmovable morality that has undermined the logic of scientific reasoning. Equally the concepts of equality, economic distribution, prosperity and selfnessless have been undermined, by that same stubborness - Ancient democracy taught equality, freedom of expression, knowledge and understanding to all. Modern democracy teaches freedom comes at a hefty price, to be strong is to be rich, to be rich gives you the power to decide over the fate of a nation. The concept of selfnessless and honour is gone. It is not that we don't wish to give, but what do we gain from giving. Give Africa religion for it is free and longlasting, rather than giving them the means to build, to develop technologies of their own, for then they are a threat.

The efforts of science have always been for the benefit of mankind, it is mankind perception of hypocritical morality that halts this process. It is right to give, but it is equally right to give to our own first and then let them have the rest.

Science is there for the whole world, given the chance medicines can be given freely, technologies supplied, people educated and taught, it is the gift of the past for the present to treasure. The promised benefits are all ready, it is humankind that refuses to surrender the moral high grounds and allow all to reap the fruits of many a scientist's labour.

Unless man steps down and retreat back to the ideals of the past, dillusionment and hopelessness will drive people to the brink of destruction - science will continue to do all it can, the future now rests with our own morality.

Answer 7

It did all it promised to. Religion has done more to ruin society than science can ever do to help it. And if you want to see the benefits of science, just look at your computer. And cell phone. And microwave. And there's a 50% chance you wouldn't be alive today without it. What has religion done for you lately?

Answer 8

So your argument is that we were better off during the Dark Ages? Get real.

The majority of the problems in the world are caused by corrupt governments in that area. It is not possible for technology to fix human social problems.

Answer 9

America is one of the most Christian nations in the world... would you say we have the greatest morals? I don't think so.

What has Christianity given us besides a fear and/or hatred of science? Holy wars? Illogical thought processes and constant excuses?

Scientific materialism is too much reality for most people, therefore yes... fine... Christianity gets my second vote.

Answer 10

There are very few benefits to science and they do not last. Instead of everyone enjoying life more, more people are in fear of the future and what it holds. People cannot afford the medicines they produce and medicines have as many side affects that seem worse than the illness you wonder if it's worth taking the medication because of the risk. We are able to destroy ourselves many times over because of the weapons science has brought into our world. Sure we can live a little longer, but what is that good for when it just for more suffering. God's kingdom is the only solution to all mankind's problems and everyone should be praying for it to come and accomplish God's will on earth like in heaven just as Jesus taught.