Philosophy and Science: Understanding the World
Animal Asked to Do
Why? Humans are not content to simply live; we need to find meaning in this life. Humans look back and forward. Animals live in the present; we are pushed back and forth. It is this perfect adaptation to the environment that we need, and it forces us to use intelligence to find new ones. The characteristic of humans is the inability to integrate into the world. This dissatisfaction is the deep root of all philosophy.
A New Approach to Things
Humans see a world full of mystery that makes us curious. What do they do up there? This way of looking at the world we call a theoretical or cognitive attitude.
Chaos to Cosmos: Solving the Origin of Things
First, the mythical tales, then philosophical musings, and finally the scientific explanations; this is the passage of myths to logos. What do you see in the fantastic performances compared to the precise description of science? The answer is simple: to bring order to chaos, the result is the law.
Mythical Universe
The story contrasts with the more accurate, logical, and rational description that we find in scientific expression. In fact, one of the defining features of the myth is that it is anthropomorphic. It is typical of the primitive mind to explain what is known. Strange as it may seem, this is a world governed by universal justice.
The Evolution of Mythical Thinking
The myth is evolving. If we compare Hesiod and Homer, there is already quite a progressive tendency in the latter to deprive the gods of their anthropomorphism. Moreover, in the writings of early philosophers, we can see personifications of natural phenomena. The conclusion is that the so-called transition from myth to logos did not occur abruptly but through gradual evolution.
A Gradual Process
In the transition from myth to logos, we were moving towards more impersonal forms in a process of increasing abstraction. Reason makes its way through observation and experimentation. A reason that observes, discovers regularities, and seeks simple and consistent explanations is due to its greater efficiency. This makes nature more predictable.
Philosophy and Science as Rational Knowledge
Philosophy and science share the source and give a rational and coherent explanation. These philosophers and physicists try to explain what they see as they see it. They no longer feel compelled to justify an order that has ceased to exist. In the Greek colonies, there was an atmosphere of intellectual freedom that favored free inquiry. In such a context, it is easy to understand that mythical thinking is in crisis and is being replaced by a more rational logos.
Philosophy: Between Science and Religion
Philosophy was born out of our perplexity about the world. In consciousness, philosophy has something to do with religion and science. However, philosophy is neither science nor religion. Philosophy explains one kind of reality, as do myth, science, and religion.
Let Us Be Consistent
The only requirement to be satisfied by all philosophical systems is that they are rational, reasoned, and consistent. Neither fit intuitions, often vague or ambiguous. The most important aspect of philosophy is that no one has the last word.
Thinking Is Not Equivalent to Knowing
Thinking is thinking about something; thinking is philosophizing. To distinguish between philosophy and science, Kant made a distinction between the concepts of thinking and knowing. According to Kant, knowledge is of phenomena. For these ideas, there is no procedure to verify or refute; they are pure abstract speculations. How do we know the feelings of Kant? So, according to Kant, it is necessary to define two areas: knowledge and thinking. Science is the field of knowledge, while philosophy is the realm of thought. Philosophy and science are two complementary ways of dealing with reality. For Kant, a phenomenon is that which is observable. We only have knowledge of phenomena, not of the essence.
Activity as Critical Philosophy
Philosophy is a rational activity, guided by certain principles. What do we miss in philosophy? It is kept alive as a rational, critical, and questioning activity to offer a global vision. The vision of philosophy is as an activity rather than specific knowledge. In line with this trend, how we think is more important than what we think. Philosophy is not just to think but to face things with a critical attitude and without lies.
A Comprehensive and Systematic Knowledge
It would be total knowledge that integrates all scientific knowledge into the same perspective. Philosophy aims to offer an integrated vision. What then is philosophy?
- As a set of ideas and thoughts, it is knowledge that is worth studying.
- As a set of methods and procedures, philosophy is a critical activity that is worth practicing.
Critical of Dogmatism
Philosophy and religion have in common the aspiration of all: to offer a response. Religion responds dogmatically, and philosophy does so critically. Philosophical explanations are an invitation to discussion. From this, it follows that philosophy is the realm of reason and criticism.
Doubt Releases: The Hallmark of the Philosopher
To philosophize is, above all, to doubt. The habitat of thought is the level of uncertainties. Doing philosophy means seeing doubt as an invitation to reflection. Subjecting all thoughts to criticism necessarily leads to skepticism, but philosophy has many paths, none of them definitive. In any case, the philosopher is better oriented in the way of truth than many people who consider themselves scholars. They are not considered in possession of truth, they are just looking for it with insistence and getting closer to it.