Philosophy Versus Science

[Alan V]

I have never heard a theist make such an argument, and I don't know what that person said exactly. If some theists really are saying that scientists are accountable to philosophers, then that's an arrogant thing to say.

Some theists argue that way because they are trying to ignore the whole question of evidence. If they can draw atheists into purely philosophical discussions, they are on much more equal footing. That strategy isn't an accident.

Without addressing you point by point, I would like to say, in general, that there is no doubt that certain schools of philosophy are embedded in the genetics of science. However, those are the varieties of philosophy which have proven productive in terms of testable results. There are right answers, as it turns out. So scientists have no need to go back.

Socrates is famous for saying something like "I know that I know nothing." The problem is that certain philosophers still seem to think that some sort of absolute knowledge is possible. Science has shown that we humans can know a lot of different things we once only dreamed of understanding. But science changed the definition of knowledge in the process of learning, away from certain philosophical hopes of what was possible.

Looking at results, I think we have to credit the pragmatists. Unless there is some crisis in the sciences, other than aggressive ignorance, there is no reason to question or abandon what has worked in the past. We may not ever know everything we might like, but we will be protected from jumping to unwarranted conclusions.