The tyranny of magicalized science and its collapse by the masses: fear and modernity in the Japanese mask norm

ABSTRACTThis article discusses the tyranny of science and the masses’ reaction to it, considering the situation in which the overturned mask norm, which is different from the medically desirable mask norm, has been practiced in Japanese society. The model of the human being that science assumes is frequently inclined to be limited to a very narrow model of the modern citizen or a rational, ideal human being with sufficient information to make decisions. Such a metaphysical understanding of human beings and society does not assume that the masses will not accept it. As a result, science has no choice but to use mathematically derived fear to control the masses. Science will always have a tyrannical and magical character in the sense that fear is necessary for the realization of the scientific expectations of experts. To incite fear, technology should be not only scientific but also symbolic (ritualistic) in the society in which it is used. However, once the fear becomes a reality, the masses, instead of being increasingly frightened by it, begin to doubt the scientific explanations of the experts. As a result, the tyranny of science starts to collapse. It is in the masses, who are perceived as the furthest removed from science, that the opportunity exists for science to be relativized.KEYWORDS: COVID-19technocracymaskriskfearmasses Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsJiro HaneJiro Hane, born in Yokohama, Japan, is an associate professor in the school of Political Science and Economics, Meiji University, Tokyo. In 2010, he graduated from the Graduate School of Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, with a Ph.D. His research focuses specifically on modern Chinese history and contemporary Chinese studies. Some of major works include “Butteki Chugoku-ron (China from a Material Perspective)” (Tokyo: Seidosha, 2020).