Have Scientists Always Been Philosophers in Disguise?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between science and philosophy, particularly in the context of Mortimer J. Adler's book on philosophical mistakes. Participants explore whether science can exist independently of philosophical frameworks and the historical role of philosophers in shaping scientific methodology.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the content of Adler's book and express interest in its key points, suggesting a desire for a summary of its arguments.
  • One participant questions whether science can operate without the philosophy of science, proposing that modern scientific achievements may imply a philosophical underpinning.
  • Another participant asserts that science requires an epistemology, highlighting the scientific method as a product of philosophical thought, specifically referencing Francis Bacon.
  • A participant reflects on the historical context of science, suggesting that ancient engineers and technicians achieved significant feats without a formal philosophy of science, raising questions about the necessity of philosophy in scientific practice.
  • There is a suggestion that clearer communication of philosophical ideas could enhance understanding, particularly if philosophers adopted methodologies akin to scientific reporting.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity of philosophy for scientific practice. Some argue that philosophy is integral to the scientific method, while others suggest that historical scientific achievements occurred independently of philosophical frameworks. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing views.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference historical figures and concepts without reaching consensus on their implications for the relationship between science and philosophy. The discussion includes assumptions about the roles of scientists and philosophers that are not universally accepted.

IntellectIsStrength
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Has anyone read this book? It is written by Mortimer J. Adler.
I would like to know you opinions regarding this book.
 
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Not really. Can you summerize these "10 philosophical mistakes" for us? Sounds interesting.
 
I haven't read it yet. I just ordered it and I will be getting it shortly. I'll summerize the key points of the book once I read it myself.
In the mean time, the following links will offer some interesting information regarding this book.

http://www.ephilosopher.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=PNAmazon&file=index2&asin=068481868X

 
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IntellectIsStrength said:
I haven't read it yet. I just ordered it and I will be getting it shortly. I'll summerize the key points of the book once I read it myself.
In the mean time, the following links will offer some interesting information regarding this book.

http://www.ephilosopher.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=PNAmazon&file=index2&asin=068481868X

Let's hope for your sake that "buy this book" is not one of the 10 :biggrin:
 
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Science can operate without philosophy of science...?

Maybe Adler can tell us if modern sciences which have brought man to the moon and back and also prolonged life expectancy enormously, namely, could have developed without the philosophy of science or the science philosophers?

yrreg
 
Well, obviously science requires an epistemology. If you are to conduct research, you need a methodology by which you conduct research. Scientists use the scientific method, which is a product of epistemology. The method was first developed by a philosopher, Francis Bacon.
 
Men of science before the philosophy of science...?

I am trying to find a way to put dense and abstruse philosophical writings, specially of some philosophical thinkers today, into simple English so that people can get the ideas such thinkers are trying to tell the world.

On the naive assumption that scientists can explain things better than philosophers, even explain philosophers and their writings better than philosophers themselves, I come to entertain the idea that maybe if we get really good scientists and science writers to explain philosophy and philosophers, then we might just see what they are talking about, most specially those who talk unlike Adler.


Francis Bacon, was he a compiler of methods employed by people of the past and of his times, men we would now today call scientists, or did he think out the epistemology of science from out of the blue?

During his days and before his birth in the past there had always been engineers and technicians, for example, men who thought of ways and means to raise giant structures like the pyramids, the highways of imperial Rome, aqueducts, and build war machines, construct seafaring vessels, they are what we would today call scientists because they were doing science as they figured out how to produce their small and big and colossal contrivances.

These were men who did not have to read philosophy of science to achieve their extraordinary feats of structure and machinery -- because there was no philosophy of science then...(?)

Suppose those dense and abstruse philosophers of today write their ideas in the methodology of a term paper in a science report as we do in high school and also in college.

That should enable them to produce their ideas clearly and briefly, and maybe they might decide to not bring them out and convince thinking people about their worth.

yrreg
 

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