Scientism and atheism then and now: the role of science in the Monist and New Atheist writings
We examine how the authors who represent 'New Atheism' refer to science, and we compare these references to how science was viewed in earlier Continental forms of atheism, namely in Ernst Haeckel’s writings and his Monist movement. We analyse and compare these references in five key areas:...
Authors: | ; |
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Format: | Electronic/Print Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Taylor & Francis
[2016]
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In: |
Culture and religion
Year: 2016, Volume: 17, Issue: 1, Pages: 73-91 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Atheism
/ Scientism
/ Monism
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IxTheo Classification: | AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism NCJ Ethics of science VA Philosophy |
Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) |
Summary: | We examine how the authors who represent 'New Atheism' refer to science, and we compare these references to how science was viewed in earlier Continental forms of atheism, namely in Ernst Haeckel’s writings and his Monist movement. We analyse and compare these references in five key areas: the general reference to science, the use of science as an argument against religion, reference to a scientific mode of knowledge, scientific theories about religion and science as a means of giving meaning to life. While there are many similarities that clearly position New Atheism within the history of scientism, we find that the form of scientism the New Atheists employ owes at least as much to the current state of religious field as to their scientistic predecessors. |
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ISSN: | 1475-5610 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Culture and religion
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/14755610.2016.1160944 |