Science is the dominant belief system

• Characteristics of a science

  > Empirical

  > Theoretical

  > Objective

  > Cumulative
• Rationalisation


  Undermines religion - science is dominant

  People now have ‘faith in science’
• Open v Closed belief system


  Open - way of explaining things thats open to criticism -allows things to change if they’re disproved

  Closed - way of explaining things that’s not open to criticism - doesnt allow things to change if they’re disproven
• Popper


  Science = open

  Falsification - able to attempt to disprove

  “swans are only white” - could disprove as was black swans
• Merton


  Science= open

  Science can only thrive with support from institutions

  CUDOS norms:

  Communism - knowledge must be shared to grow

  Universalism - truth of science judged by set criteria

  Disinterestedness - aim to discover knowledge for own sake

  Organised Scepticism - every idea open to criticism
• Cognitive power 


  Science enables us to explain, predict and control the world

  Eg climate change