scientism

[ sahy-uhn-tiz-uhm ]

noun

1. the style, assumptions, techniques, practices, etc., typifying or regarded as typifying scientists.
2. the belief that the assumptions, methods of research, etc., of the physical and biological sciences are equally appropriate and essential to all other disciplines, including the humanities and the social sciences.
3. scientific or pseudoscientific language.

scientism

/ ˈsaɪənˌtɪzəm /

noun

1. the application of, or belief in, the scientific method
2. the uncritical application of scientific or quasi-scientific methods to inappropriate fields of study or investigation

Derived Forms

• ˌscienˈtistic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scientism¹

First recorded in 1875–80; scient(ist) + -ism

Example Sentences

"It also intrudes on the air of scientism that the field wishes to present: if the New York Times is running op-eds about Trump being a sociopath, it encroaches on the special power and privilege that psychologists have to make those determinations, and so they push back, arguing that such a diagnosis can only be made by a professional, in a clinical setting."

From Salon

And when you treat science like a religion, like a framework for limiting the interpretation of the world’s possibilities, rather than like a framework for discovering those possibilities — you stop writing science journalism and you start writing Scientism apologia.

From Salon

In overindulgent headlines and ill-advised body-copy, would be defenders of the faith of Scientism gleefully celebrated missing the entire point of panpsychism across some widely circulating and uninformed articles that I’d rather not further promote.

From Salon

With these facts in play, what can we learn from this story regarding scientism’s plans for us in the coming days?

From Washington Times

“I think it’s dangerous to lean too far into scientism, which is when you see the world exclusively through the lens of whether something is backed by science,” O’Keefe said.

From Slate