Science & Philosophy, do they ever get along? ( Archived) (70)

Any couple who have opposite things in common can get along....it's about respecting one anothers opinions....and not putting them down...because they are different than yours...and when you love someone...that respect should already be in place...so it won't be a hard thing to do....

yes...with open minded people....on both sides

I don't see the two necessarily being in conflict at all. Science people generally are interested in ideas, in my experience, and philosophy people are often interested in science (I know I love both!).

What about those of us who are not scientific OR philosophical? I tend to be more, spontaneously comical.

Is that addressed to me, Sweet?

You have pointed out a real difference. For example, it's rather difficult if not impossible to quantify many things scientifically whose reality we take for granted - such as love, will, or any human emotion.

It's interesting to note that philosophy essentially mediates science through its understandings of basic logic as it applies to the nature of scientific method (for instance). It's impossible to practice science without certain philosophical premises; on the other hand, good philosophy has to take into account at least some scientific truths (that is, is informed by empirical facts).

What I'm saying is that in many ways they are truly different sides of the same coin - they both need each other to some degree - so there is a good potential dialogue between people who are more interested in one or the other.

There are science-types who eschew some of the messier philosophic issues or who even deny the validity of philosophy altogether; by the same token there are philosophy-types who dislike science. If these cases don't apply, however, the two could have a grand ole time!

I am scientific on many things, but I am also philosophical about many things.

I am smart enough to know that there are many things that we don't have figured out and may never figure out. So rather than refuse to take anything by faith because I do not have it concretely figured out in front of me, I don't worry about it.