Argumentative strategies against scientism: an overview

Abstract

This paper presents and discusses various strategies that have been wielded against scientism, roughly the claim that only science can give us knowledge. The strategies identified are: (1) the counter example strategy, (2) the denying of claimed entailments of science strategy, (3) the self-undermining strategy, (4) the presupposition strategy, and (5) the limits of science strategy. In addition, two proposals are discussed that aim to recast the debate about scientism in a way that renders these strategies obsolete. It is argued that these proposals are misguided.