What is philosophy of science?
Philosophy of science delves into the fundamental questions surrounding science itself. It's not a field for conducting experiments, but rather a branch of philosophy that critically examines:
- Scientific Process: How scientists develop, test, and refine scientific knowledge.
- Scientific Explanations: What makes a good scientific theory and how do we evaluate them?
- Relationship between Science and Society: The influence of social, cultural, and historical factors on scientific inquiry.
What are the main features of philosophy of science?
- Critical Thinking: It delves deeply into the assumptions, methods, and limitations of scientific knowledge.
- Justification of Knowledge: Philosophy of science explores how scientific claims are justified and validated.
- Objectivity vs. Subjectivity: It examines the role of objectivity in scientific research while acknowledging the potential influence of human biases.
What are important sub-areas in philosophy of science?
- Scientific Method: Examining different interpretations of the scientific method and its limitations.
- Scientific Realism