Science between the hammer of history and anvil of philosophy [Archives:2005/853/Culture]
By Dr. Amr Adel Jawi
Aden University
Science is one of the most serious phenomena of the human civilization. It is the greatest in terms of representing the existence of man – the rational creature- in this universe. In the twentieth century, the benefits of science multiplied so much that science became the most effective factor in shaping both mind and reality. The philosophy of science has become the most significant branch of philosophy in the 20th Century, expressing the cognitive surge of the era.
The question that needs a full answer is how the 20th Century inherited the philosophy of science, how did it develop that philosophy and how was it eventually passed down to the 21st Century.
These few lines are attempting a discussion of science in terms of its relation to philosophy and history. Hedger said that “Science itself doesn't think”. We may add to this statement that science is not concerned with its memory and therefore it does not look back at its history.
The sole concern of science is to reform and renew itself and transcend the present reality let alone the past. Therefore, the relation between science and its history wasn't similar to that of other civilized components which consider it as a chronicle that contains their identity. Such components variably get detached from their history but that is only when they desire.
As the history of philosophy is philosophy itself, the gap between science and its history becomes inevitably clear. As science doesn't think of itself, it is then the duty of science philosophy to take up this task and think of the very nature of science, its methodology, cognitive characteristics, conditions, states, and factors.
With science oblivious to its past, the philosophy of science is not far from the historical dimension of the science phenomenon. It has become very concerned with the history of science.
On the wide course that stretched up until the end of the Medieval Ages, old science has advanced considerably. It must have been the strong and necessary background which eventually gave birth to the powerful form of the modern science creating the contemporary world for the contemporary man. In conclusion, old science was entrapped within the cultural frame and was not an independent institution with independent standards, norms and people. It was rare to find a scientist devoted to his scientific research. This, too, was true about the Islamic civilization which pioneered old science. Changes came around in different arenas: religious, political, economic, social and commercial with promising minds that started to glean new discoveries in natural sciences.
Modern science with its rich contents and its philosophical reflections has been the palpable heritance handed to the 20th Century. The 20th Century managed such property well and invested it wisely in a way that went incredibly beyond limits. The spirit of science was zealous and ambitious.
As it is known, the relation between philosophy and science is strong. There is a dialogue between them extending along the history of human civilization. In the past, philosophy was the tender mother under which all other sciences were residing. Other sciences were considered as its extension.
The establishment of branches of the modern science one after the other made them independent of philosophy. In the modern era, philosophy and science are two distinct currents. Nevertheless, the spirit that feeds the modern autonomous and full-fledged science is reflected in the modern philosophy that temporally goes abreast with modern science.
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