Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Young Guns

30 August, 2011

Young Guns | VirtuousPla.net

Here is an interesting article focusing upon the emergence of new Catholic 'apologists' who have taken to the new media to promote, proclaim and defend the teachings of the Church. I particularly appreciate the qualities that these new bloggers are bringing forth: courtesy, charity and a facility at using social media to achieve their ends.

They give me hope for the future of the faith!

Young Guns | VirtuousPla.net

9 comments:

Anonymous30 August, 2011
I had some excellent debates with Mr. Layne on his blog "The Impractical Catholic" and all was fine and happy until he attacked "scientism" (to me it's more an epithet than a concept) and tried to argue from his knowledge of quantum mechanics. Things were not nice for a while but we've reconciled.

I'll check out some of the others.

Michael
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Fr. Tim Moyle30 August, 2011
What is 'scientism'? I've never heard of such a thing.

Fr. Tim
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Anonymous30 August, 2011
Scientism is generaly used in arguments to disparage Science as a "ism", either a ideaology (aka Marxism) or a religion (Protestanism). The implication is that scientists are strictly wedded to their ideological position independent of the facts.

Note : It's also a technical philosophical term used by Karl Popper and others

Michael
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Fr. Tim Moyle30 August, 2011
It's stupid! Anyone with even a passing understanding of the way that science actually works should be able to see how silly such a contention really is.

Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Fr. Tim
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Anonymous01 September, 2011
Hi Tim

Its not that dumb really. I think this is a more accurate definition of Scientism and I've had many discussions with individuals online that fit that description to a T. Science for them is their exclusive compass in life and the source of all truth.

Unlike the use of the scientific method as only one mode of reaching knowledge, scientism claims that science alone can render truth about the world and reality. Scientism's single-minded adherence to only the empirical, or testable, makes it a strictly scientifc worldview, in much the same way that a Protestant fundamentalism that rejects science can be seen as a strictly religious worldview. Scientism sees it necessary to do away with most, if not all, metaphysical, philosophical, and religious claims, as the truths they proclaim cannot be apprehended by the scientific method. In essence, scientism sees science as the absolute and only justifiable access to the truth.

Cheers
Paul
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Anonymous02 September, 2011
Anonymous Paul,

The scientific method may not be the only method to obtain truth, but is the best method we humans have so far discovered that keeps us from deluding ourselves in that search. In science, one may be wrong, there may be many questions that cannot (at least now) be answered, but the scientific method should stop one from accepting demonstrably incorrect statements or assenting to statements to which there is no evidence.

To many people living without certainty is a problem, in that case pick one of the 38,000 Christian denominations and throw in your lot with them because if you reject the requirement for evidence, all beliefs are valid. For me, I'd rather live not knowing something, than accept an arbitrary assertion without evidence.

Anonymous Michael
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Anonymous02 September, 2011
Fr. Tim.

I know you like to read science books. I'm 1/3 of the way through "The Quantum Story" by Jim Baggot (Oxford University Press 2010). Excellent book so far. Parts are a bit technical, but in the main it deals with the personalities and struggles of the quantum revolution in a detailed and (as far as I can tell) accurate manner.

Well worth looking up.

Michael
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Fr. Tim Moyle02 September, 2011
Thank you Michael. The book is being downloaded into my Kindle as I write this. Today I'll finish 'Nothing', a book by Frank Close. I'll start on Baggot's book next.

Fr. Tim
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Anonymous02 September, 2011
I see that's one of the Short introduction books. I just go the Short Introductions to Numbers from our library. It's pretty good. I'd be interested to see what you think for the Quantum book. It's one of the best ones I've seen for dealing with the personalities of the discoverers of Quantum theory. It must have been an exciting time to have been a physicist.

Michael
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