The difference between science and philosophy lies mainly on the fact that more often than not, science deals with finite things while philosophy deals with the infinite.
In mathematics, they have accepted the fact that there is no rational way of writing the square root of three. There is no way of writing it as a fraction with coprime numerators and denominators. That is why they chose to call it irrational. However, in philosophy, the fact that some things cannot be explained or given a particular and logical explanation must be pondered upon. That is why there is no end to thoughts.
Also, in counting irrational numbers, there will always be an irrational number between two irrational numbers. Mathematicians readily accepted the fact that it is uncountably infinite (unlike rationals which has a systematic way of listing). In life, only when the surface is scratched will one realize that there is more. The next layer shows that there is still more, and more, and more, and indefinitely more. That is why thinking does not end. That is why it cannot be universalized.
It is not that science and mathematics has given up on the infinite, but they chose to give it a name- irratinals for this case.
The reason why scientists can replicate an experiment is because an oxygen atom will always be of atomic number 16 (except for isotopes). However, if the 16 ranged values from 1 to 118, there would be no way of arranging these elements in the periodic table. In life, each relationship varies with different types of people who have different perpectives in life. Each one is existing in a unique manner, despite the unity of being a being. Since it is personal, and there are infinitely many cases here, it cannot be universalized.
The main point here is that writing down a formula for philosophy or life is as futile as trying to systematically list down all irrational numbers.
I agree with what Kate posted. In my opinion, that's why subjects like Philosophy and Theology are important. It's not enough that we know how to add and subtract. The more significant aspects of our lives cannot be answered by a mathematical equation or scientific research.
ReplyDeleteAnika Leongson PH 101 C
Yes, the idea of writing down a formula, or trying to answer the most important problems related to our being such as "Who am I?" and "What should I do?" by using a specific technique is foolish, because everyone of us is unique. Each of us have different experience, different story to tell, and thus have a different solution or answer to the same problem.
ReplyDeleteWhile for us individuals, it is when we try to find a technique, when we want to have a specific answer to the existential problems, that we start to realize there doesn't exist such a formula. It is when we try to list down all the irrational numbers that we figure out there are more, more, and more irrational numbers.
And perhaps the attempt of trying to systematically list down all irrational numbers is not totally futile. Because trying to find a technique for philosophy will eventually lead to a contradiction to the purpose itself. We will eventually realize that we can't answer the problems with a formula or technique.
Wai Yiu So PH101 A
It is indeed important to have a grasp between the distinction of Science and Life because I believe by knowing these distinctions we are not only capable of understanding and applying it on our lives but also maintaining a balance of both. We must not only be aware of the other but also realize that both science and philosophy help define the things we believe on.
ReplyDeleteNneka Vicencio
PH 101 A