In Defense of Science and Materialism

A Facebook friend recently shared an article titled “The Collapse of Physicalism,” which argued that physicalism is crumbling due to several issues, including: (1) matter does not exist as we traditionally conceive it, (2) physicality is difficult to define, and (3) physics cannot account for all scientific phenomena. While these points raise interesting questions, celebrating the “collapse of physicalism” seems premature and misguided. Below are my reasons:

1. The Utility of the Material Model

The difficulty in defining matter does not detract from the practical utility of the materialist model. Much like the abstractions of geometry — where points and lines are conceptually undefined but are indispensable tools — the material model remains immensely useful for both scientific understanding and technological advancements. Materialism offers a framework that has allowed us to develop models of the universe that generate real-world applications, from quantum mechanics to electronics. Even if matter is more elusive than once thought, the physicalist approach continues to produce functional insights that improve our daily lives. The difficulty in defining a concept does not nullify its usefulness in practice.

For example, the ambiguity in defining “matter” has not hindered the development of medicine, physics, or engineering, all…