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Philosophy vs. Science

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Since ancient times, humans have always searched for truth to uncover the hidden mysteries of the world and slake their curiosity. From mystic to theological, from scientific to deductive, these have run the gamut of possible approaches. As time went on, this search developed into a more systematized procedure, with forms of research formed mainly into the studies we know today as science and philosophy. Many intellectuals answer the siren call of one or the other, and with reason, as these different patrons of truth vary from and bear semblance to each other in manifold ways that may appeal to certain people. Of these ways, philosophy and science differ in their history, intrinsic nature, and method.

To begin with, the history of philosophy and science are their most similar aspects, both having emerged in the same manner. Philosophy is traceable mostly to Greco-Roman epochs, though it has other roots and most likely has no exact beginning. In any case, it progressed over the years, with famous philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle and Plato beginning one of the most consequential periods of philosophy and forming the basis of its future. In fact, philosophy before Socrates is known as Pre-Socratic philosophy. (“Greek Philosophy”) As events continued, European thought changed gradually until the 18th century Enlightenment when the French philosophes brought about an alteration in the major world-view and brought it more or less to what it is today (Buckler, 605-608). As for science, it too cannot have an official beginning, but the Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus created it as “natural philosophy,” and the thinkers of the time considered it a part of philosophy (O’Grady, “Thales of Miletus”). Scientific advances in the...

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