Yet, for Hedayat, modernity was not just a question of scientific rationality or a pure imitation of European values.
The work has been described as a classic example in the history of science of the posing of a basic question on scientific rationality.
While scientific rationality can produce 'enlightenment' about nature it also alienates human beings through the social relations consequent upon the domination of nature.
In almost all areas of their lives, Americans explain the world in ways that are more or less based on scientific rationality.
The metaphor of scientific rationality and the figure of the state-sponsored expert were used to attack older voluntary and 'amateur' approaches to social reform.
The character arguing the latter, Doctor Stephen Franklin, often appears in the more spiritual storylines as his scientific rationality is used to create dramatic conflict.
Guided by the Machine Age belief in centralized institutions and scientific rationality, they wanted to protect the public interest with government agencies run by experts.
Indeed, in Europe, too, secularism and scientific rationality were both at first seen as new ways of being religious.
Old-time scientific rationality seems to be teetering on the edge of obsolescence.
Claims to scientific rationality, which were always dubious, have given way to the increasing use of value judgements (Klein 1992).