By Matters India Reporter
Old Goa, October 26, 2019: The current trends of ideological dogmatism are posing “danger” to India’s scientific temper, said the Association of Christian Philosophers of India (ACPI).
“India’s contribution to science has been immense. There has been a scientific temper down the ages, which is in danger of being diluted by current trends of ideological dogmatism, whereby the distinction between fact and fiction, history and mythology are blurred,” an ACPI statement said.
“Indigenous sciences and democratized applications of the same need to be encouraged. The spirit of a healthy scientific temper needs to be protected from vested corporate interests and the dysfunctional influences of caste, gender, class and religion,” the statement read.
The press statement was issued at the end of the 44th annual research seminar of the ACPI at the St. Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre in Old Goa, October 23 to 25. As many as 87 participants attended it.
The Indian Institute of Science and Religion, Delhi (IISR) co-hosted the seminar. “Philosophizing Science: Promises, Perils and Possibilities” was the theme.
Several papers were presented to provide a philosophical critique of science from diverse yet wholesome Indian and Christian perspectives. They focused on beneficial and dysfunctional aspects of numerous features and disciplines of science, said Dr. Keith D’Souza, ACPI president.
The members of the ACPI, by their philosophical reflections, hopes to promote a balanced scientific outlook that will be constructive, humanizing, inclusive and liberating,” said Jesuit Father D’Souza.
Wonder is the beginning of science. Philosophy and science ask similar questions but from different perspectives. Science is a great gift of God. Over the centuries science has delivered on its promises of better life for humanity in varied facets of life – education, entertainment, health, industry, space exploration and travel to mention a few, ACPI explained.
“Science is socially necessary, yet insufficient. Science seems to explain everything, but not so. This attitude of scientism is dogmatic and when applied to all other fields such as aesthetics, ethics, philosophy and religion, it impoverishes life, often causing ordinary people to become victims,” the statement said.
“Science and technology are the means through which neo-imperial powers of society today manipulate the human self. Misguided scientific research can result in dysfunctional consequences, especially in the promising area of Artificial Intelligence. The possibility of unethical use of technology for social engineering is a challenge that needs to be addressed, “the press note said.
Goa Archbishop Felipe Neri Ferrao was the chief guest at the inaugural function.
In his address, he stressed the need for philosophy, science and faith to work productively together to create a better world. Prof. Job Kozhamthadam, SJ, director of IISR gave a keynote address.
His paper was titled, “Science and Philosophy: Companions on a Common Mission”.
He stressed the complementary nature of philosophy and science and pointed out how these two disciplines independently and collaboratively had contributed towards the cumulative wisdom and development of the human family.
The papers presented pointed towards beneficial and dysfunctional aspects of various features and disciplines of science. The aspect of “promises” and “possibilities” of science and technology-focused on the several accomplishments which the discipline of science has gifted the human family over the centuries.
Many of these creative contributions have made human life far more comfortable, efficient and predictable, as compared to the lives which our forebears had to live. The aspect of scientific and technological “perils “highlighted several pressures which these developments have imposed on the fabric of social life: damage to the environment and consequent climate change, robotization and artificial intelligence which affects the dignity of human labour, leads to personalization of human interactions and increases unemployment, genetic engineering which results in social and biological imbalance, and above all the growing spirit of scientific dogmatism.
Last year’s ACPI research seminar papers on the theme “Philosophizing of Transformative Practice: Social Movements in India” were released in the form of a book edited by Jose Maliekal, and published by Christian World Imprints (CWI), Delhi.
The ACPI was born in 1976 to discuss philosophical questions of relevance and undertake an in-depth study of socio-philosophical issues.
From 2002 onwards the ACPI publishes academic research papers and books with its specific way of philosophizing—an Indian Christian philosophizing.
In 2010, it published the ACPI Encyclopedia of Philosophy, which is one of the major contributions in the field. Standing rooted in the twofold rich heritage of being Indian and Christian, the ACPI has been taking up the challenge of philosophizing with a difference.