Abstract
Does scientific knowledge have limits? This chapter tries to answer this question
by first investigating the distinct nature of scientific knowledge, as contrasted
with other kinds of knowledge. Two plausible proposals are considered:
scientific knowledge as high-grade knowledge and scientific knowledge as
objectifying knowledge. The chapter then investigates what these two proposals
entail for the question of whether scientific knowledge is limited. It turns out
that, on both proposals, there are in-principle limits to what can be known
scientifically. This spells trouble for any forms of scientism denying this.
by first investigating the distinct nature of scientific knowledge, as contrasted
with other kinds of knowledge. Two plausible proposals are considered:
scientific knowledge as high-grade knowledge and scientific knowledge as
objectifying knowledge. The chapter then investigates what these two proposals
entail for the question of whether scientific knowledge is limited. It turns out
that, on both proposals, there are in-principle limits to what can be known
scientifically. This spells trouble for any forms of scientism denying this.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Scientism |
| Subtitle of host publication | Prospects and Problems |
| Editors | G.J. de Ridder, H.D. Peels, R. van Woudenberg |
| Place of Publication | New York |
| Publisher | Oxford University press |
| Chapter | 8 |
| Pages | 190-219 |
| Number of pages | 30 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780190462772, 9780190462765 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780190462758 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |