Short Essay on Question Two
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The Classical, Mechanistic Paradigm of Science
The classical mechanistic paradigm of science has dominated the culture of the society for many years, shaping the western culture and substantially influencing the activities of the world. Most of the problems on the environment are as a result of people considering themselves as separate from nature. This perspective lie is rooted in the scientific revolution, which is dated back from the time of Galileo, Newton, among others[1]. Most of the issues affecting people today can be solved by a radical change in the perception of people, their values and their thinking. The society is getting involved in a significant pattern of change which is as radical as the Copernican revolution.
A new perspective has developed, which views the universe as a network integrated with all non-living and living agencies. Similar to the old-fashioned cosmology exhibited by the Great Chain of Being, any activity in the mechanistic paradigm of science affects the entire pattern[2]. The perception of the new paradigm considers disparate and different groups operating on different causes with similar elements, which eventually come together in common action. The mechanical paradigm of science has proved to be unsustainable and fatally flawed. It is in the process of giving way for an ecological pattern whereby various values and ideas that were previously entrenched are questions, and their assumptions have been challenged.
The three pillars of the classical mechanistic paradigm of science are the Newtonian physics, the Cartesian Philosophy and the Baconian method. Newtonian physics describe different mechanical actions that involve the action of force on the matter. This pillar uses the laws of gravity and motion, which were formulated during the seventeenth century by Isaac Newton. Newtonian physics also involve several concepts developed by scientists later. The developments of the 20th century have overturned the concepts of Newtonian physics substantially. It is no longer a matter of motion and gravity in making things happen. These changes have been as a result of technological developments such as automobiles, nuclear weapons and electricity.
The Cartesian philosophy is a pillar of classical science that holds that there is a particular knowledge that can be gained by reasoning from internal ideas. It opposes the empiricism tradition that believes that every knowledge is based on experience and it is thus probable[3]. The probabilistic theories of the Cartesian philosophy were formulated from experiment and observation. Cartesians were made to get satisfaction from the uncertainty in science as they trusted the omnipotent nature of God. Some developments in the 20th century still defend the views of the Cartesian philosophy. However, other developments have overturned this pillar. For instance, Ryle terminates the view of Cartesian as a misconception of the ghost in the machine. He claims that the mind is the intelligent behaviour of the human body. Other philosophers of the 20th century also claim that seeking certainty in science, and normal affairs are unnecessary and hopeless.
The Baconian method is an inductive procedure of scientific investigation. It consists of the inference of basic principles or laws from instances of experiments. From these experiments, the scientist has to formulate an explanation for the causal relationship established in the experiment. This pillar disregards the act of people reasoning on the basis of the scriptures rather than conducting experiments and formulating experiments from them. The 20th-century developments have overturned how these experiments are done. Scientists are formulating hypotheses and then conducting scientific researches to prove these hypotheses.
Bibliography
Hesketh, Ian. The science of history in Victorian Britain: making the past speak. Routledge, 2015.
Lacey, Hugh. “Science, respect for nature, and human well-being: democratic values and the responsibilities of scientists today.” Foundations of Science 21, no. 1 (2016): 51-67.
[1] Hesketh, Ian. The science of history in Victorian Britain: making the past speak. Routledge, 2015.
[2] Ibid 1
[3] Lacey, Hugh. “Science, respect for nature, and human well-being: democratic values and the responsibilities of scientists today.” Foundations of Science 21, no. 1 (2016): 51-67.