• Question: What is the relationship between scientists and philosophers?

    Asked by ogoldfinch09 to Laura, Lena, Sean on 22 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Sean Murphy

      Sean Murphy answered on 22 Mar 2012:

      Good question.

      I think to be a good scientist you also need to be a good philosopher.

      Philosophy frames the questions and sets the rules of debate. It does this by exploring the landscape of what might be true and figuring out how different approaches to truth interrelate. The dialog of philosophy focuses on logic, rules of argumentation, and the definition of abstract concepts. The approach and practice of science, including the “scientific method” arose out of philosophy.

      Science is a strategy for arriving at consensus answers to questions about the natural world. It focuses on discovering “facts”, “laws”, and “mechanisms”. Often what are discovered are new objects that were previously unseen and unknown to exist.

    • Photo: Laura Waters

      Laura Waters answered on 23 Mar 2012:

      If I could go back and study at university again I’d do philosophy. I read lots of books about it at home as I think it is amazing. Also, the way that philosophy and religion change the way people think is very interesting to me.

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