New Atheism and the Scientistic Turn in the Atheism Movement

New Atheism Overview

• Introduction to New Atheism: A contemporary movement contributing to public understanding of science and philosophy.

  • Key Works: Triggered by Sam Harris's The End of Faith (2004) and followed by notable figures like Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Christopher Hitchens, and Victor Stenger.

  • Context: Emerged post-9/11, reflecting a reaction to religious extremism.

Growth and Development

• Initial Wave: Immediate successes and books by the founding figures.

• Subsequent Authors: Includes Jerry Coyne and P. Z. Myers, who contribute through articles and blogs, but with varied tones.

• Diverse Perspectives: While some adhere strictly to New Atheism, others, like Alain De Botton and A. C. Grayling, diverge in tone and arguments.

Scientistic Turn in Atheism

• Scientism Defined: A tendency to treat science as the sole or ultimate authority, often at the expense of philosophy.

• Impression of Popularity: New Atheism’s success is unprecedented in terms of global bestsellers—Dawkins’s The God Delusion topped lists for 51 weeks.

  • Sociological Context: The 9/11 attacks likely influenced the rise and acceptance of New Atheism.

• Difference from Classical Atheism: Classical Atheism relied on philosophical arguments; New Atheism leans heavily on scientific authority against religion.

Historical Atheism

• Origins: Traces back to ancient philosophers; the term implies denying gods.

  • Early Figures: Notable atheists included Diagoras of Melos and poets like Euripides.

• Decline During Middle Ages: Atheistic thought diminished significantly until the Renaissance saw a resurgence, heralded by thinkers like Diderot and Hume.

• Philosophical Contributions: The 19th and early 20th centuries provided strong defenses against religion through philosophical channels, e.g., Marx and Nietzsche.

Prominent Figures in New Atheism

• Christopher Hitchens: His work focuses on anti-religious rhetoric without grounding in scientific inquiry.

• Daniel Dennett: Advocates that religion is a natural phenomenon but aims for a more sophisticated understanding, acknowledging the legitimacy of philosophical inquiry.

• Richard Dawkins, Victor Stenger, and Sam Harris: Present a notable shift towards scientism, attempting to frame the existence of gods as a scientific hypothesis rather than philosophical.

  • Dawkins’s Contributions: Reiterates traditional philosophical arguments against deity and critiques theistic claims through the lens of science, yet often oversimplifies complex philosophical discussions.

  • Stenger’s Approach: Similar to Dawkins, regards the ‘god hypothesis’ as scientifically testable, despite philosophical nuances.

  • Harris’s The Moral Landscape: Claims morality can be derived from science, which raises philosophical critiques regarding the role of philosophy in ethics vs. science.

Critiques of Scientism

• Philosophical Limitations: Scientism extends science’s scope into realms better suited to philosophy, such as morality and existential questions.

• Consequences for Science: Misunderstandings of scientific methodology can hurt public perception and undermine nuanced discussions about religion and morality.

• Effect on Atheism: Atheism benefits from scientific insights, but building a case solely on science dismisses the well-established philosophical traditions that have expounded on these issues for centuries.

  • Emphasizes a collaboration between science and philosophy.

Future Directions for Secular Thought

• Rethinking Knowledge: A broad approach combining scientific rigor with philosophical inquiry, as expressed in the Latin term "scientia," covering all reliable sources of knowledge.

• Respect for Disciplines: Modern atheism should integrate various fields to foster a comprehensive understanding of morality and human existence, moving away from the reductionist tendencies of New Atheism.

• Pioneering Authors: De Botton and Grayling exemplify a movement towards more nuanced atheism, blending philosophical insights with the relevant adaptations of contemporary thought.