But scientistic philosophy-the attempt to construct a metaphysics, a theory of action, an ethical theory, a political theory or what have you that has the rigor and generality that we associate with the natural sciences-is not at all the same thing as social science, which is the application of scientific method to social behavior. Most pragmatists have not disbelieved in the utility of scientific method. Quite the contrary, pragmatism in the style of Peirce and Dewey can be viewed as a generalization of the ethic of scientific inquiry--open-minded, forward-looking, respectful of fact, willing to experiment, disrespectful of sacred cows, anti-metaphysical. And this is an ethic of which law needs more.

DEFINE: Distinguishes scientistic philosophy (metaphysics mimicking natural science rigor) from social science proper (applying scientific method to social behavior).

Richard A. Posner, Richard A. Posner - What Ha…, loc. 133