Excursus 101 – On Scientific Prestige and Philosophical Authority

Hossein Jorjani First publication: 2026 – 07 – 20 Throughout the history of philosophy, scientific achievements have often enhanced the prestige of philosophical systems associated with them. The success of mathematics, physics, biology, or other sciences may lend an appearance of authority to philosophical arguments that invoke their concepts or terminology. Yet scientific prestige andContinue reading “Excursus 101 – On Scientific Prestige and Philosophical Authority”

Excursus 036 – On Scriptures and Science

Hossein Jorjani First publication: 2026 – 06 – 30 In modern science, references to God or Scripture are absent from scientific discourse. This reflects the principle of methodological naturalism, in which science explains phenomena solely in terms of natural causes and observable evidence. While individual scientists may hold personal religious beliefs, such beliefs are notContinue reading “Excursus 036 – On Scriptures and Science”

Excursus 017 – On Intellectual Autonomy and Heteronomy

Hossein Jorjani First publication: 2026 – 06 – 30 Bacon’s critique of received doctrine reflected a broader philosophical distinction between autonomy and heteronomy. An autonomous intellect forms its judgments—moral, epistemic, or conceptual—through independent engagement with reason and experience. A heteronomous intellect, by contrast, defers to external authorities or inherited frameworks. Bacon considered such heteronomy especiallyContinue reading “Excursus 017 – On Intellectual Autonomy and Heteronomy”