Philosopher Scientists

Design Credit: Maisie Nievera

I have only one rule when it comes to walking around campus: always take the diagonal. I’ve been taking advantage of the diagonal since middle school, when I, like most others, learned about the Pythagorean theorem. While he may be best known for his contributions to geometry, Pythagoras was more than a mathematician; he is also believed to have created the field of philosophy. 

Pythagoras was the first in a long line of philosopher-scientists. Since then, Plato taught mathematics and metaphysics, Aristotle balanced titles like “father of biology” and “The Philosopher,” and Descartes defined theories of knowledge and the coordinate plane. For as long as both disciplines have existed, they have been closely intertwined, with every scientific field having a philosophy equivalent. However, in recent times, many scientists have become hostile toward philosophical study. Stephen Hawking, the renowned physicist, has argued that “philosophy is dead,” while acclaimed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson labeled philosophy a “distraction.” The argument against philosophy seems to be a fair one; philosophy might have mingled with science in a time when the Sun revolved around the Earth and the color of one’s bodily fluids determined their personality. Today, though, in a world mostly explained and built by science, what use is there for philosophy?

To Thritha Anand, a UT student double-majoring in Philosophy and Biology, philosophy has been quite useful in her STEM studies. Critical thinking and logic, two cornerstones of philosophy, are essential parts of the scientific toolbox. Taking Philosophy classes focused on these skills of argumentative thinking has strengthened Anand’s writing and speaking in science classes, too. “Philosophy is about understanding evidence and coming to conclusions,” Anand says. This is something that is just as useful in formulating theoretical arguments as it is in putting together research reports. 

As for the substance of philosophy itself, it can provide useful insight into what we consider “hard science.” There are many misconceptions about philosophy among CNS students- many, Anand says, have a “narrow-minded view,” similar to that of de Grasse Tyson and Hawking. “They think it’s just a bunch of people asking about the meaning of life,” Anand said, “But it’s much more than that.” Philosophy has many sub-disciplines, though, including Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of Mind and Body, and Philosophy of Race and Gender. In these classes, Anand has been able to draw parallels with traditional science; the discussions about childhood development in her Philosophy of Language class mirror the developmental studies in psychology classes, while the discussion of sex-gender distinctions and gender fluidity in Philosophy of Race and Gender provide interesting challenges and complements to the description of sexual selection in Evolution. 

These philosophical insights provide insight into existing scientific knowledge, but they are just as important to new advances in science. As our knowledge increases, so does our ignorance. Every new answer provides a thousand new questions for philosophers to probe and define in terms that aid scientists. Philosophy has proved important in understanding advances like stem cell therapy and autoimmune disorders. The philosophical approach to these topics provides a framework for scientists to work within.

Fortunately, there are many avenues for CNS students at UT who would like to incorporate that philosophical approach into their scientific studies. Some might choose to pursue a double major like Anand, fully immersing themselves in both disciplines, while others could pursue any of the three Philosophy minors in the College of Liberal Arts. Those who have even less time to commit can always take an elective course. And for those would-be scientists who are hesitant to take a Philosophy class at all, it might be a good idea to take a look at the work of philosophers on subjects of interest- or at the very least, refrain from disparaging their study. 

To students who are still philosophy skeptics, I say: next biology class, when you are learning about evolution or the human body, stop for a second to consider the non-scientific implications. Next time you are cutting a corner, remember Pythagoras, the man who created a famous mathematical proof and also theorized about a world made of right triangles.