Nature of Philosophy and Other Disciplines

Philosophy and Other Disciplines By Rodrigo Abenes Stephen Hawking in his book entitled The Great Design (2010)
had made a pronouncement that philosophy is dead. Philosophy has not kept up with modern developments in science, particularly physics. (Hawking & Mlodinow, 10) He concluded that science had become the bearers of the truth in our quest for knowledge. Such strong categorical statement had its great bearing for Hawking is been considered as an authority in the field of contemporary natural sciences. With such, one might ask: Why do we need to study Philosophy? Or better still why philosophy? Why not Physics then? Thus, it is necessary for us to consider the nature and value of philosophy particularly in its relationship with other sciences. For it is the more necessary to consider this question, in view of the fact that many men, under the influence of science or practical affairs, are inclined to doubt whether philosophy is anything better than innocent but useless trifling, hair-splitting distinctions, and controversies on matters concerning which knowledge is impossible. (Russell, 1980, 89) To deal with the abovementioned question, I think it would be better to look at the very definition of philosophy so as to have its clearer picture. Using the Aristotleian-Scholastic Logic, it has been said that there are different ways of defining a thing. First is by way of nominal definition and second is by way of real definition. By nominal definition, Philosophy, according to early Greek tradition came from two Greek words: Philo and Sophia which means love and wisdom respectively. Thus, from its etymology, it is considered as the love of wisdom. On the other hand by using the real definition, philosophy had been, understood as, a science on the study of ultimate causes and of the first and the most universal principles of reality by way of reason. (Alvira, Clavell & Melendo, 1991, 4) Departing from its real definition, philosophy therefore is considered as a science. But it must be noted that it is considered as a science in the perspective of science as the body of knowledge of reliable knowledge itself, of the type that can logically and rationally explained and not that of science taken as empirical and experimental. Second, philosophy deals with the ultimate principle and causes of reality. This had been the very material object of philosophy. Philosophy deals with reality. It aims primarily on the knowledge of reality. The knowledge it aims at is the kind of knowledge which gives unity and system to the body of the sciences and the kind which results from a critical examination of the grounds of our conviction, prejudices and beliefs. (Russell, 1980, 90) At this effect, philosophy, therefore deals with the problems reality not carelessly, religiously and dogmatically but rather deals with it critically, rationally and objectively.
Taking into consider its real definition; therefore, one would noticed that philosophy is different from other disciplines, particularly to sciences. What made it as such is because it aims on knowledge with uncertainty for philosophy had never achieved a very great measure of success in its attempts to provide definite answers to its questions about reality. This had been very clear with the abovementioned statements of Hawking that philosophy has not kept up with modern developments in science, particularly physics. Thus, he then boastfully claimed that philosophy is useless for it never been a bearer of truth but rather a bearer of obscurity and vagueness. Bertrand Russell cited this in his book entitled The Problems of Philosophy (1981) that if you ask a mathematician, a mineralogist, a historian, or any other man of learning, what definite body of truths has been ascertained by his science, his answer will last long as you are willing to listen. But if you put the same question to a philosopher, he will, if he is candid, have to confess that his study has not achieved positive results such as have been achieved by other sciences. (Russell, 90) This view appears to be a result of the wrong conception of the very nature of philosophy; of which it strives for. It is true that philosophy deals with uncertainty but it must be noted that it deals with it critically so as to lay down its foundation for other sciences to follow for all sciences had been considered as the children of philosophy or better still philosophy is been considered as the mother of all sciences. As a mother, philosophy would cut its umbilical cord to any disciplines or sciences as soon as definite knowledge had been achieved and established, this subject ceases to be called philosophy, and becomes a separate science. (Russell, 90) With this, history of science therefore is worth revisiting. For instance, mathematics before had been considered as the part of philosophy for Pythagoras believed that studying mathematics is best purifier of soul. The study of stars and other heavenly bodies, which is now called astronomy had been part of philosophical endeavor of the early ancient philosophers. Biology, for instance, which is now considered as a separate science had been part of philosophical study of Aristotle. The study of human mind, which is considered today as Psychology is already an independent science. Another worth telling is Newton who entitled his work as The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. To go further, one might ask why is that all doctoral studies are called Doctor of Philosophy. This is clearly indicates that all sciences originated from what we called Philosophy.

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Philosophy and Other Disciplines By Rodrigo Abenes Stephen Hawking in his book entitled The Great Design (2010)

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