The Metaphysical Foundation of Science and Its Phenomenological Transcendence

Author: Liu Jie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: Remember what Einstein once said, "In the early 20th century, only a few scientists had a philosophical mind, but by the 1950s, physicists had almost all become philosophers." In Western intellectual circles of the 20th century, science and philosophy engaged in intense intellectual dialogue, and the philosophy of science flourished. The representatives of the Vienna Circle were all scientists, and nearly all the quantum physicists of the Copenhagen School were philosophers. The founder of scientific historiography, Thomas Kuhn, was a physicist and also served as the president of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. The representative of scientific realism, Mario Bunge, became a physics professor at the age of 37. To this day, almost all universities in the United States offer courses in the philosophy of science. In contrast, in China, the intellectual communication between natural science and philosophy remains fraught with difficulties. In the Chinese scientific community, people generally adopt a cautious attitude toward metaphysics. Worse still, some scientists show an instinctive aversion to philosophy, believing that philosophers are merely babbling about useless nonsense. I remember at the first international academic symposium on the philosophy of science held in Beijing in 1992, many Western participants were scientists working on the front lines of scientific research, while the number of Chinese scientists attending was few and far between. Not only is it difficult for Chinese science and philosophy to engage in dialogue and resonance, but the focus of Chinese science also seems to be shifting increasingly toward technology, with the territory of fundamental theory shrinking day by day, further distancing itself from the realm of rational analysis. The integration of Chinese science and philosophy is thus a distant prospect. The reasons for this, apart from some economic considerations, are deeply rooted in the Chinese scientific tradition of "thick life and context" and are related to the metaphysical image of ancient Chinese philosophy. Why is the Western scientific community so enthusiastic about philosophical inquiry and show great interest in philosophy? Because they firmly believe in the principle summarized by countless philosophers who devoted their lives to it: when theoretical science is on the verge of significant development, philosophical rational analysis plays an irreplaceable role, and the birth of new scientific theoretical systems is often guided by philosophy. Faced with these shortcomings in the development of Chinese science, Professor Liu Jie's seminal work is undoubtedly a powerful call, a plea for the integration of science and philosophy. I believe the author has conducted in-depth exploration at least on the following two points. , he correctly highlights the significance of metaphysics for scientific research, discovery, and innovation. In the process of organizing people's unsystematic, fragmented beliefs into a rigorous system, rational metaphysics provides a pre-existing categorical framework. This framework is the "network of meaning" for scientists, and the formation of human knowledge relies on this network. The fundamental work of scientists can only be explained and made meaningful only when it has a direct or indirect relationship with this "network of meaning." Similarly, scientific revolutions are also the complete transformation and reconstruction of this "network of meaning." Secondly, the metaphysical categorical framework serves as a major "coordinating force" in scientists' selection of research topics. As the "invisible organizing agency" of scientists' cognitive experience, the metaphysical framework subtly guides and regulates scientists' interests, and can even influence the arrangement of academic institutions and the establishment of research organizations in society. Therefore, I believe this book is an outstanding achievement in the field of the philosophy of science in China in recent years and is worth reading by everyone.