David Hume’s Empiricism and Its Contribution to The Integration of Science, Culture, Technology, and Religion

Abstract

The integration of science with cultural, technological, and religious dimensions is an urgent discourse in contemporary thought, particularly in addressing epistemological fragmentation. David Hume’s empiricism offers a critical contribution to this discussion through its emphasis on sensory impressions as the foundation of knowledge and its radical critique of causality and induction. This study aims to analyze the position of empiricism in the philosophy of science, examine Hume’s role in advancing empiricism, and explain the relevance of his thought in integrating science with culture, technology, and religion. Using a qualitative, library-based approach, this research draws from books, articles, and previous studies, with descriptive analysis applied to interpret and contextualize Hume’s ideas. The findings show that in the realm of culture, empiricism provides a methodological basis for studying social practices as products of lived experience, while simultaneously highlighting the need for ethical and normative reflection. In technology, Hume’s insistence on observation and verification strengthens empirical testing, whereas his skepticism toward causality and induction fosters caution and repetition in innovation, laying the groundwork for logical empiricism. In religion, Hume’s thought underscores the limits of empirical reasoning but allows religious experience to be studied phenomenologically, while its normative truth remains grounded in revelation and faith. The conclusion emphasizes that Hume’s empiricism not only reinforces methodological rigor but also opens a dialogical epistemology in which experience, reason, and revelation coexist. Thus, integrating empiricism into contemporary scholarship contributes to the development of science that is empirically valid, ethically responsible, and culturally and spiritually meaningful.