Making Science and Philosophy Great Again
Following William James’ “pragmatic method” is a good place to start.
Science and philosophy are not easy subjects, even for scientists and philosophers. Both, in their own ways, are dedicated to the acquisition of knowledge and the search for truth. They each adhere to methodologies that require considerable time to learn and can be difficult to follow consistently.
Furthermore, as with all endeavors, science and philosophy are undertaken by people, and people are not perfect. While objectivity is highly valued in both fields, every experience a person has is a subjective one shaped by both personal and cultural histories and all the biases, peculiar interpretations, and emotions that come with them.
Scientists in particular have labored mightily to eradicate any indication of subjectivity and bias from their work. While the scientific method acknowledges human bias, it is presented as a means of mitigating it. Peer review, successful replication, and rigorous experimental controls are all intended to bring subjective beings to an understanding of objective truth.
Philosophy, on the other hand, cannot pretend to avoid humanity’s shortcomings so easily. It covers ethics, morality, and politics as well as the nature of reality and truth. It includes…
