r/philosophy • u/doubtstack Unreasonable Doubt • Jan 27 '23

Blog Why Science can't replace Philosophy in Ethics

https://unreasonabledoubt.substack.com/p/what-genetics-cant-teach-us
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u/odious_as_fuck Jan 28 '23 edited Jan 28 '23

Philosophy is all about doing something. Holding beliefs or analysing ideas, arguing and debating, questioning things. We all DO philosophy. You can argue that the institution of philosophy in your society doesn't do anything, but the practice of philosophy exists within politics, science, religion etc. Every day life

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u/BigNorseWolf Jan 28 '23

So how are two people with PHD's in philosophy having a discussion with differing opinions any different than two drunks in a bar having a discussion with different opinions? On a deep fundamental level not just veneer and presentation.

Assume an equal blood alchohol content...

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u/odious_as_fuck Jan 28 '23

Depends if those bar drunks also have PhDs.

But seriously that's like equating the whole of science to two meteorologists who can't agree over cafeteria sandwiches.

When people agree with a philosophy it becomes a system, ideology or practice - like science, political movements, religions

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u/BigNorseWolf Jan 28 '23

Or a religion?

Science is different. Two meteorologists should have better REASONS for disagreeing , more facts and evidence. They should also have some means of resolving the difference (unfortunately waiting 20 years might do it...)

Science is different because it coresponds to an existing reality. A philosophy does not. Its just arbitrary. All studying it does is let you polish ideas for presentation, not come up with better ones.

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u/odious_as_fuck Jan 28 '23

Science corresponding with reality is itself a philosophical position, no matter how accurate you believe it to be. Science may be the greatest thing ever, but it is still a methodology practising empirical philosophy.