Science and Rationalization Lecture Notes - Aristotle

Vocabulary flashcards covering the lectures from 4/15 and 4/17 regarding the nature of modern science, its relationship to rationalization, and the role of the scientist.

Science

A broad field that can refer to STEM subjects or social sciences such as political science, psychology, and sociology.

Academic career

A professional path characterized by a significant amount of uncertainty.

Rigid specialization

A demand of modern science that makes the era of the broad generalist a thing of the past.

Passion

A precondition for scientific work and a necessity for achieving inspiration.

Inspiration

An elusive element of scientific work that must go hand-in-hand with hard labor.

Intoxication

The state of being so overtaken by a scientific subject that it moves the individual.

Rationalization of life

A process tied to science that can result in life becoming meaningless.

Disenchantment

The state in which technology and calculation replace the need for magic or spirits to achieve goals or control the world.

Modern life

An existence where there is always a new thing to do, leading to circumstances like FOMO (fear of missing out).

Lectern

The platform from which scientists are instructed not to preach, though they may present facts.

Inconvenient facts

Facts that a scientist may ask students to acknowledge even if they challenge the students' political views.

The Gods

A metaphor for competing values or commitments in life that are often in conflict, requiring an individual to choose one over the others.