Neopositivist Puritanism

A contemporary purity culture among those who weaponize "science" as an identity marker and test of belonging—without the philosophical sophistication of classical positivism, but with all the dogmatic intensity. Neopositivist puritanism demands that true members signal their allegiance to Science (capital S) constantly, through approved language, approved positions, approved enemies. Members compete to demonstrate their purity—their rejection of anything labeled "pseudoscience," their contempt for anyone who questions scientific consensus, their willingness to condemn the insufficiently orthodox. The content hardly matters; what matters is performance, belonging, the satisfaction of being among the enlightened few who Really Get It. Neopositivist puritanism is what happens when science becomes a brand, and loyalty to the brand becomes the measure of virtue.

Example: "He'd never actually studied philosophy of science, but he knew exactly which opinions to express to signal his belonging—Neopositivist Puritanism, where performing the right relationship to Science matters more than understanding it."

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 14, 2026