Scientism and Values.pdf - Ludwig von Mises Institute

Introduction
HELMUT SCHOECK
"Scientism" is a term of criticism. In the realm of aesthetic
creativity, the critic is usually a revered and accepted professional.
But in the field of social science the man who suggests self-criticism
and internal systematic doubt of what we are doing often invokes
the scorn and wrath of his fellows who feel threatened in smug
niches of narrow expertness. l
However, though we use the term "scientism" in a slightly
pejorative and reproving sense, we do not think of ourselves as
antiscientific. Scholars who are critical of scientism·· do not offer
intuitions as the remedy. On the contrary, the word "scientism"
conventionally describes a type of scholarly trespassing, of pseudo
exactitude, of embracing incongruous models of scientific method
and conceptualization. Scientism fosters not only the "fads and
foibles" of contemporary sociology, but is also in itself a symptom
of an insecure world view, of a negative social philosophy. Certain
models of society, certain techniques which this volume evaluates,
and for which we suggest the label "scientism," appeal sometimes
to insecure individuals and groups because such use of science in
human affairs supposedly would allow one to "fix," to freeze the
world once and for all. 2
Moreover, scientistic interpretation of the study of man throws
the scholarly grasp of human nature and its volitions open to
ideological manipulations when least suspected. Quantities can
be ,as subjective an argument as a stress on qualities. But most
people are less aware of this fact. If the public or fellow scholars
are unwilling, for· prescientific, i.e., ideological reasons, to accept
our arguments, statistical data and their expert manipulation will
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