Sciencerather

Sciencerather is a neologism used to describe a stance or approach that prioritizes empirical evidence and scientific reasoning in evaluating claims, policies, and beliefs, over non-empirical sources such as tradition, authority, or ideological rhetoric. The term is not tied to a single doctrine; rather, it signals a preference for evidence-based argumentation and transparent methodologies.

Etymology and usage: The word appears to be a compact form blending “science” and “rather” or “instead.” Its precise origin is uncertain, but it began to appear in online discussions and science communication circles in the 2010s, where speakers advocate a sciencerather approach to public discourse and decision making.

In practice: Sciencerather can guide approaches to policy, education, and media literacy, encouraging preregistration of hypotheses, replication, data sharing, and critical appraisal of sources. It is often invoked to contrast evidence-based reasoning with appeals to tradition, authority, or ideology.

Relation to other ideas: It overlaps with evidence-based policy and empirical epistemology, and is distinct from scientism, which is sometimes criticized as claiming science can answer all questions. Critics argue that sciencerather risks neglecting ethical, cultural, and value-driven aspects of decisions, and may oversimplify complex social phenomena.

Status: As a term, sciencerather remains informal and contested, lacking a fixed definition or canonical usage. It is primarily encountered in online debates, commentary, and discussions about science communication and policy formulation.