Logic, methodology and philosophy of science VIII proceedings of the eighth international congress of logic, methodology and philosophy of science, and philosophy of science proceedings) ( PDFDrive ) 24

PHILOSOPHY, SCIENCE AND MAN In this connection the science of science treats in a new way the role of philosophy as the school of human thinking and comprehension of the world Discussions have long been held about the correlation of philosophy and natural science, about the borderline between them, about philosophy’s contribution to the development of science, and the role of natural science in the development of philosophy Some scientists maintain that philosophy and natural science differ by their objects of investigation, and that philosophy should not study natural objects Others believe that the boundary between philosophy and natural science lies in the fact that the objects and problems under study are examined by philosophy and natural science from different angles Without going deep into this discussion, I would like to emphasise the main point: it is not the opposition, but the interaction of philosophy and science that is a condition of their fruitful development Genuine scientists were well aware that natural science could not get along without philosophy The great Russian natural scientist V.I Vernadsky, the founder of biogeochemistry, wrote the following about the role of philosophy in the development of knowledge as far back as 1902: “It seems to me that these are aspects of one and the same process-the aspects quite inevitable and inalienable If one of them ceased to exist, the growth of the other would also stop .’’.4 It is precisely such an orientation to the need for an alliance between philosophers and natural scientists that was expressed and thoroughly substantiated by Lenin.’ In its development, philosophy relies not only on the richest experience of its own but also on the achievements of the natural and social sciences For its part, it can play an important role, first, in the generalisation and interpretation of the latest scientific achievements; secondly, in the integration of knowledge and the creation of a general scientific picture of the world; thirdly, in the perfection and development of the methodology and logic of scientific knowledge; fourthly, in an analysis of the socioethical problems of science in relation to man, society and nature In short, philosophy has great cognitive, methodological and conceptual significance Let us examine, albeit briefly, these functions of philosophy implemented in its interaction with science The philosophical analysis, generalisation and interpretation of the ‘ ’ WRNADSKY, V.I., 1981, Selected Works on the History of Science, Russian edn (Moscow), p LENIN,VI., Complete Works, Russian edn (Moscow),vols 18, 45