The Scientific Worldview: Beyond Newton and Einstein

by Glenn Borchardt

Discovering the nature of the Scientific Worldview is no easy task. It cannot be found by summing all scientific specialties, or by polling scientists and averaging the results. The Scientific Worldview, above all, must state its beginning assumptions clearly and from there attempt a coherent unification of the salient facts and a rigorous application of determinism to the world as a whole. It would not be in agreement with every interpretation advanced by every specialist. No explication of it would be accepted by all scientists.Throughout history, the idea that the universe is governed strictly on deterministic principles reappears embellished with a style and with facts reflecting the culture it addresses. Each time, efforts are made to refute it. Eventually it is suppressed, only to return stronger than before. Humanity today appears to lie at the threshold of physical destruction. Its survival will not be a miracle, but a result of the deterministic actions we will take to forge a new unity among all peoples. The time is ripe for a renaissance of determinism.

411 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Amazingbollweevil · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much as I love philosophy and science, combining the two in a single book—and make it work—is really hard. Sadly, the author fails at this task. If you are already well versed in the philosophy of science, you'll probably have no problems with this book, but then you are consuming stuff you already know. For anyone else, the author throws you in the deep end by introducing labels and concepts that require explanations ... which he fails to provide.

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's nice to start a book with an explanation of what it is that you want to explain, argue or describe. 50 pages in and I was still none the wiser what the author's goal was.

[Antonio Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting if only because it shows how far 10 absolute presuppositions can take you in explaining the world. For those who have never investigated the history of scientific theories, this book hits like a train load of new information of just how philosophical our given assumptions today are. Ranging from the ontology of the world as matter in motion, the iron laws of causality, to a reconception of the meaning of the theory of evolution such that it is expanded to everything in the universe, and finally ending with a description of the social world and an optimistic prediction of humanity's future in an increasingly rational world where reason and feeling, as well as humanity and nature, are not alien to each other.

A book worth reading even if all its structures are to be left behind as philosophical maturity comes.