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Science and Philosophy: A Loveā€“Hate Relationship

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Peer-reviewed

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Abstract

Abstract: In this paper I review the problematic relationship between science and philosophy; in particular, I will address the question of whether science needs philosophy, and I will offer some positive perspectives that should be helpful in developing a synergetic relationship between the two. I will review three lines of reasoning often employed in arguing that philosophy is useless for science: (a) philosophyā€™s death diagnosis (ā€˜philosophy is deadā€™); (b) the historic-agnostic argument/challenge ā€œshow me examples where philosophy has been useful for science, for I donā€™t know of anyā€; (c) the division of property argument (or: philosophy and science have different subject matters, therefore philosophy is useless for science). These arguments will be countered with three contentions to the effect that the natural sciences need philosophy. I will: (a) point to the fallacy of anti-philosophicalism (or: ā€˜in order to deny the need for philosophy, one must do philosophyā€™) and examine the role of paradigms and presuppositions (or: why science canā€™t live without philosophy); (b) point out why the historical argument fails (in an example from quantum mechanics, alive and kicking); (c) briefly sketch some domains of intersection of science and philosophy and how the two can have mutual synergy. I will conclude with some implications of this synergetic relationship between science and philosophy for the liberal arts and sciences.

Description

Funder: Trinity College, University of Cambridge; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000727

Keywords

Article, Philosophy of science, Science and philosophy, Heuristics, Liberal arts and sciences

Journal Title

Foundations of Science

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1233-1821
1572-8471

Volume Title

25

Publisher

Springer Netherlands