Personality types of science

Aristotle described the four “causes” (really “becauses” or explanatory factors) that are required for a full explanation. These are called the material cause, the efficient cause (or mechanism), the formal cause (or design), and the final cause (or purpose).

It seems as though trying to cover all four causes at once is either too much to expect or that investigators have preferences as if there’s a kind of scientific personality. Compare the Myers-Briggs-Jung psychological typology, which is based on people’s preferences for two of four functions, characteristic of their psychological type. So, for example, an individual may prefer “intuitive feeling” to sensing and thinking, as these words are defined in the typology. All four functions are used in some respects but people have personal preferences for two of the four, a dominant function and an auxiliary function.

Aristotle’s approach to science focused on the material and formal causes, and so is called “hylomorphic” (a combination of matter and form). Modern science modifies this aspect of Aristotle and focuses on the efficient cause (the mechanism) and the material cause (perhaps it should be called “hylodynamic”). Some modern scientists even have a difficult time acknowledging the existence of other causes.

Intelligent design advocates are focusing on formal causes (or designs) and efficient causes (or mechanisms). They see a strong role for information such that the material cause is played down. This portends the rise of a new kind of science, one with a “scientific personality” preferring formal and efficient causes (perhaps it should be called “dynamorphic”).

It seems that creationists are increasingly focusing on formal and final causes. Without denying the existence of efficient and material causes, they emphasize the importance of God’s purpose and design over all (perhaps this should be called “telomorphic”). It may be that some will focus on final and efficient causes. These are other scientific personality types.

Can all these scientific personalities get along? There may be conflicts but it is to be hoped that over time as with human relations, scientific personality types will be able to at least understand one another and perhaps to cooperate.