What is positivism?

Answer

Positivism refers to a specific philosophical assertion: that we can only be certain of things directly perceived by the senses. Within this limitation, only purely empirical fields like science are deemed to provide truth. According to positivists, all other areas such as religion are inherently unknowable and therefore lack meaningful truth. The most explicit form of this stance is logical positivism, which asserts that only empirical or analytic statements (purely logical) hold significance. Thus, both positivism and logical positivism aim to dismiss religion and faith by presupposing that such concepts are either beyond comprehension or irrelevant.

An illustrative instance of positivism’s principle is evident in a well-known quote by David Hume, a key figure in the Enlightenment and modern positivist thought. Hume famously remarked, “If we take in our hand any volume—of divinity or school of metaphysics, for instance—let us ask, Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quality or number? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matters of fact and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames, for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.”

Hume’s quote encapsulates the fundamental positivist stance: any statement lacking empirical basis holds no ascertainable truth. Ironically, Hume’s own statement, as cited above, lacks quality, number, or experimental reasoning. Essentially, if Hume’s assertion is valid, then it too is merely “nothing but sophistry and illusion.” In essence, this implies that adopting positivism requires making a unique exemption for positivism itself.

Ultimately, positivism and logical positivism amount to mere semantic exercises. They exhibit bias, attempting to discredit other forms of knowledge while upholding their own as the sole truth.Notably, some individuals may resort to defending a predetermined conclusion rather than elucidating or uncovering actual truth. According to their own rationale, positivist assertions lack coherence. Simultaneously, positivist logic is exceedingly fragile; the positivist methodology is excessively narrow to the extent that adjusting the definition to avert self-contradiction leads to completely discarding the concept.

From a Christian perspective, positivism falls short in portraying either reality or human experience. Certain truths exist beyond human perception «Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. », (Hebrews 11:3). Simply dismissing what we, as finite beings, cannot visually perceive, taste, or touch represents an unreasonable constraint. We are urged to engage in critical thinking «Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. », (Colossians 2:8) and thorough introspection «Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? », (2 Corinthians 13:5), instead of presumptuously assuming that anything imperceptible to us does not exist (Job 38:1-4).