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Articles

Is Science Neurotic?

Nicholas Maxwell argues that science misrepresents its own core aim and as a result, suffers from self-deception.

It seems, on the face of it, absurd to suggest that science is neurotic. Some scientists, along with other people, may be neurotic; even the odd pet. But how can a vast, impersonal intellectual endeavour like science be called neurotic? Is not this to attribute a mind to science, an ego, id and superego? What could be more nonsensical?

And even if it did somehow make sense to say of science that it is neurotic, wouldn’t the assertion be patently false? Science has, after all, met with quite extraordinary success at improving our knowledge and understanding of the natural world. Could such an incredibly successful enterprise really be neurotic? If neurosis meets with such success should we not try to acquire it, rather than hope to be cured of it?

But let us consider a classic example of neurosis: the Oedipus complex. A boy loves his mother, and as a result is furiously jealous of, and hates, his father.

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