About philosophy of science. Book “Facing Up”, by Steven Weinberg.

[Sadovnik Socratus]

About philosophy of science. Book “Facing Up”, by Steven Weinberg.

=..

“I think few philosophers of science take it (discussing questions 

about scientific knowledge)  as part of their job description to help

 scientists in their research. . . .   . why this should be? Why should 

the philosophy of science not be of more help to scientists? I raise 

this question here not in order to attack the philosophy of science,

 but because I think it is an interesting question – perhaps even

 philosophically interesting,”

 / page 84 /

“ . . . it’s not the job of physicists or other scientists to define truth;

 that is the job of philosophers. If they haven’t done that job, too bad

 for them”

 / page 104 /

“My point is rather that no sense can be made of the notion of reality

 as it has ordinarily functioned in the philosophy of science”

 /page 205/ 

“Fortunately we need not allow philosophers to dictate how

 philosophical arguments are to be applied in the history 

 of science, or in scientific research itself,  . . . .”

 /page 205/

“Certainly philosophers can do us a great service in their attempts

 to clarify what we mean by truth and reality,” 

/page 206/

=====…

 My opinion.

  We know that “truth” and “reality” mean in our everyday life 

(for example we have no trouble to use these words in a supermarket). 

But can we explain “truth” and “reality” in science / physics on

the logical “supermarket” level? Einstein, Rutherford, Bohr  and 

other physicists were sure that it is possible. 

===…

“Truth is ever to be found in the simplicity, and not in the multiplicity 

   and confusion of things.” 

     / Isaac Newton /

“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough”

                                / Albert Einstein. /

"A theory that you can't explain to a bartender is probably no damn good."

     / Ernest Rutherford /

“It is often claimed that knowledge multiplies so rapidly that

nobody can follow it. I believe this is incorrect. At least 

in science it is not true.  The main purpose of science is simplicity 

and as we understand more things, everything is becoming simpler. 

This, of course, goes contrary to what everyone accepts.” 

   / Edward Teller /

==..

My conclusion. 

   It seems that philosophers haven’t done their job.

==…

Best  wishes.

Israel Socratus  

==..

[Dr Garshagu MV Atovigba]

Socrates, you may not be far away from Immanuel Kant who notes that philosophy has never solved society's problems; if it did society should not be having problems again. Kant says children should be taught how to philosophize rather than being historico-philosophical. We should keep on probing existence of objects and their behaviours. This is what science seems to be doing. I think that makes science to still be dwelling in the belly of philosophy!
Atovigba.