INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM
DIPONEGORO UNIVERSITY
By :
DR. Iriyanto Widisuseno, M.Hum
DEFINITION AND SCOPE OF PHILOSOPHY
• Definition of Philosophy
– Terminology :
Terms of Filsafat (INDONESIAN) =
Falsafah(ARAB), Philosophy (ENGLISH),
Philosophia (LATIN), and Philosophie
(DUTCH, GERMAN, FRENCH), have their
origin from Philosophia (GREEK)
 Philosophia
:
– Philein + Sophos = to love
virtue/wisdom
– Philos + Sophia = friend of wisdom
– Philosophos = wisdom lover

Loving nature - paradoxical

To possess X To argue
(an unended quest – an unfinished
journey)
Conclusion
– Philosophy as an unfinished effort to
search for truth by critical manners
always asks for basic problems.
Implication of learning philosophy :
– Person gets more knowledge of the meaning
of anything, including the meaning of life.
LABELS OF PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy is a life attitude
Philosophy is way of/method of thinking in
reflective and rational manners.
Philosophy is a set of the following
problems:
– The essence of things (metaphysics) –
(human, nature, God, science)
– The origin of science/knowledge
– The meaning of truth (epistemology).
Continued.......
– What differs good from bad?
– What is beauty?
– Is religion necessary to enter human life? --Axiology
DEFINITIONS OF PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy is the attempt to give a
reasoned conception of the universe and
of man’s place it
(Fils adalah usaha untuk memberikan
pemahaman konsep alam semesta dan
tempat manusia berada)
– J.A. Leighton :fils yg lengkap mencakup alam
semesta/jagat raya, alam kehidupan, doktrindoktrin, nilai, makna dan tujuan kehidupan.
Continued....
Philosophy as the endeavor to achieve a
comprehensive view of life and its
meaning, upon the basis of the results of
the various sciences.
(Filsafat sebagai usaha sungguh2 untuk
mencapai
pemahaman
menyeluruh
tentang arti dan makna kehidupan, yg
berdasarkan hasil macam-macam ilmu)
WHY DO WE NEED
PHILOSOPHY?
Each person must make decisions and
act.
– Life has required us to determine answers for
questions of truth and faults, beauty and
ugliness, goodness and evil. We must
determine their standards and purposes.
Philosophy is capable of giving us a basis on
which we show our individual conduct in
social acts.
Continued.....
Our conduct is our own, and we are really
free only when we rely upon inner controls
or self-chosen ends.
– Tingkah laku kita adalah milik kita, dan kita
benar-benar bebas hanya jika kita percaya
akan kontrol diri sendiri dan berakhir dengan
pilihan sendiri
– Fils
membekali
pemahaman
esensial,
komprehensif dan normatif
Continued....
Philosophy is one of the best means by
which to foster the habit of reflection
– Fils adalah salah satu cara terbaik utk
memelihara kebiasaan berfikir kritis
– Fils membantu orang memperluas wawasan
hidup dan cakrawala dunianya, menjadikan ia
lebih hidup, kritis, inteligen.
Continued.....
We life in an age of uncertainty and
change, when many of the older beleifs
and ways of doing things are inadequate.
– Kita senantiasa hidup dalam ketidak pastian
dan penuh perubahan, manakala banyak
kepercayaan2
– Dalam suasana seperti ini kita membutuhkan
seperangkat
nilai2
dan
petunjuk2,
kesatupaduan ditengah kekacauan, integrasi
diri.
PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AS A
BRANCH OF PHILOSOPHY
1. METAPHYSICS
– GENERAL METAPHYSICS (ONTOLOGY)
– SPECIAL METAPHYSICS (PSYCHOLOGY,
COSMOLOGY, THEOLOGY)
2. EPISTEMOLOGY:
(Theory of knowledge)
THEORY OF SCIENCE = PHILOSOPHY of SCIENCE
AXIOLOGY / THEORY OF VALUE
(LOGIC, ETHIC, AESTHETIC, RELIGION)
SCOPE OF PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Philosophy of science
– Branch of philosophy, which deals with
science in philosophical perspectives
Material Object (what to deal with): Science
Formal Object (point-of-view) : Science is viewed
ontologically, epistemologically, and axiologically.
WHY DO MAGISTER AND
PROFESSIONALS NEED TO LEARN
PHILSOPHY OF SCIENCE?
A. Academic Requirements:
Postgraduate students are directed to
become scientists, professionals, and
expected to apply and to develop science
(i.e., research, experiment,
implementation)
- mendasar In practice they are faced by
such fundamental problems as:
Continued.........
In practising, developing, and inventing a
theory/science, one cannot rely only upon
knowledge skills, conceptual and theoretical
mastery in his/her particular discipline, but also
needs to understand the essence of science
(ontology), the method of scientific development
(epistemology),
and
moral-ethical-religious
conducts on which he/she develops, applies,
and invents a theory/science (axiology).
Continued...........
Seorang ilmuwan dan profesional dituntut
pertanggungjawaban
kemampuan
pemahaman: ontologis, epistemologis dan
aksiologis keilmuan.
A scientist or a professional is required to
be responsible for possess ontological,
epistemological, and axiological scientific
understanding.
B.Demand of more specialized empirical science
development and its impacts:
– Positive impacts:
Impact on scientists: to have more focused and
intense understanding
Impact on society: specializiation of science by
technological inventions capable of facilitating
the human needs.
Continued ...........
NEGATIVE IMPACTS
– SEMAKIN MERUNCINGNYA SPESIALISASI ILMU-ILMU
EMPIRIS, YG MEMBAWA KONSEKUENSI SEMAKIN RAGAM
BIDANG-BIDANG KEILMUAN, SEKAT2 KEILMUAN, SIKAP
ILMIAH ILMUWAN SEMAKIN FOKUS DAN INTENS DALAM
BIDANGNYA. IMPLIKASI YANG DITIMBULKAN, ILMU
BERKEMBANG MENUJU OTONOMINYA, SIKAP APATISME,
EGOISME, DAN ANARKHISME KEILMUAN.
– MORE SPECIALIZED
EMPIRICAL SCIENCES HAVE
ALLOWED THE SCIENTISTS TO DEAL WITH ENRICHED
KNOWLEDGE VARIANTS, SCIENTIFIC GAPS, MORE
FOCUSED AND INTENSE DISCIPLINES. SCIENCE HAS GOT
MORE AUTONOMOUS SO THAT IT MAY CAUSE APATHY,
EGOISM, AND ANARCHISM IN SCIENCE.
Continued...........
– Modern technology that is derived from an extensive
specialization has affected varied aspects of human
life and has intensively changed human cultural
patterns:
Lacking values:
– Technology causes practical, rational, and
empirical way-of-thinking, which may produce
materialism and pragmaticism. This way-ofthinking lacks of spiritual ethics and historical
values. It results in consumptive, materialistic,
hedonistic, demoralized, and dehumanized
way-of-life.
The development of science and technology
must be referred to the essential meaning
(ontology), development procedure and method
for mutual interest (epistemology), and
imperative
norms
to
guide
scientific
development (axiology).
Continued......
C. SCIENCE IS DYNAMIC
– SCIENCE IS NOT AN ETERNAL ENTITY. INSTEAD,
IT IS AN UNFINISHED JOURNEY, ALTHOUGH IT IS
BASED ON OBJECTIVE, RATIONAL, SYSTEMATIC,
LOGICAL, AND EMPIRICAL FRAMEWORKS.
– DALAM
PERKEMBANGANNYA
ILMU
TIDAK
MUNGKIN
LEPAS
DARI
MEKANISME
KETERBUKAAN TERHADAP KOREKSI.
– IN ITS DEVELOPMENT A SCIENCE CAN NOT BE
WITHOUT
CRITICAL
MECHANISM
AND
CORRECTION.
Continued.........
A SCIENTIST IS REQUIRED TO SEARCH FOR
ALTERNATIVES OF DEVELOPMENT BY
PERFORMING ANALYSIS, RESEARCH, AND
EXPERIMENT BASED ON ONTOLOGICAL,
EPISTEMOLOGICAL,
OR
AXIOLOGICAL
ASPECTS.
Continued.................
ANY DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY MUST FULFILL VALIDITY AND
RELIABILITY TO COMPLY WITH CONTEXT OF
JUSTIFICATION
AND
CONTEXT
OF
DISCOVERY
PHILOSOPHY – SCIENCE –
KNOWLEDGE
Philosophy
– Essential/fundamental
– Comprehensive
– Normative
Knowledge
– Actual
– Fragmented
– Common sense
Science
– Experimental
– Specific
– Empirical
THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF
SCIENCE
ANCIENT GREEK ERA (6 BC – 3 BC 6 BC)
MITOS LOGOS (6 BC – 3 BC)
– PHILOSOPHICAL (6 AD)
– SOCRATES, PLATO, ARISTOTELES,
STOA, EPICURUS, PLOTINUS
MEDIEVAL ERA (15 AD )
– (THEOLOGICAL)
– THOMAS AQUINO
(ANCILLA THEOLOGIA)
ISLAM PHILOSOPHERS—AL FARABI,
IBNU RUSD
(GOLDEN AGES OF ISLAM)
Continued...........
MODERN ERA (---18 AD – 19 AD)
RENAISSANCE (---18 AD)
AUFKLARUNG ( 19 AD)  SCIENCE
– MODERN: SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHY:
RATIONALISM
EMPIRICISM
CRITICISM
POSITIVISM
Lanjutan .........
CONTEMPORARY ERA (---20 AD-- →)
– NEW PERSPECTIVE OF THE 20TH CENTURY
– SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
SCIENCE IS NOT ONLY A MEANS
SCIENCE BECOMES A SUBSTANTIVE MATTER
SCIENCE DEALS WITH ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE
IN AN EXTENSIVE MANNER
SCIENCE CHANGES HUMAN CULTURE
INTENSIVELY
ADVANTAGE OF PHILOSOPHY
OF SCIENCE
DEVELOPING CRITICAL ATTITUDES:
– PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE IS FACED BY
THEORIES OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE:
(rationalism,
empiricism,
criticism,
critical
rationalism,
idealism/
spiritualism, materialism, capitalism,
positivism)
Continued..........
DEVELOPING ABILITY IN SCIENTIC
ANALYSIS:
– PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE IS FACED BY
VARY METHODS OF SCIENTIFIC
KNOWLEDGE
(induction, deduction, syntesism, heuristicism,
hermeneuticism, versteighen, intuisionism dll.)
Continued ..........
GIVING PRACTICAL USE TO
PERFORMING WORKS:
– PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE ALWAYS
RELATES TO SCIENTIFIC PRACTICES.
– (objective, methodological, rational,
logical, systematical)
Continued..........
PROFESSIONAL NEEDS:
– KEMAMPUAN UNTUK MELIHAT MASALAH
DAN MENEMUKAN SOLUSI
– PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE IS CAPABLE
OF FINDING OUT PROBLEMS AND THEIR
SOLUTIONS
(goals: critical attitudes, precised scientific
analisis, and awareness of moral responsibility
either as a scientist or a human)
Lanjutan..............
MENUMBUHKEMBANGKAN
KESADARAN
DAN
PEMAHAMAN
TENTANG
TANGGUNG
JAWAB
ILMUWAN PADA MASYARAKAT.
– Dikembangkan etos ilmiah, diperkaya
pemahaman esensi keilmuan
ILMU
PENGETAHUAN
TIDAK
HANYA
DIKEMBANGKAN DEMI KEPENTINGAN ILMU
(PURITAN
ELITIS), TTP JUGA
UNTUK
KEPENTINGAN UMAT MANUSIA (PRAGMATIS).
PERSOALAN POKOK FILSAFAT ILMU
PERSOALAN FILOSOFIS KEILMUAN
– PERSOALAN ONTOLOGIS
– PERSOALAN EPISTEMOLOGIS
– PERSOALAN AKSIOLOGIS
Catatan:
– Ketiga persoalan filosofis tersebut dinamakan
pilar-pilar flosofis keilmuan.
Penyangga, penguat bagi ekisistensi ilmu
Integratif dan sistemik
PERSOALAN ONTOLOGI
– Problematik tentang keberadaan (eksistensi)
Aspek kuantitas dari sesuatu
– Apakah yang ada itu tunggal, dual atau plural
monisme, dualisme, pluralisme.
Aspek kualitas dari sesuatu (mutu, sifat)
– Bagaimana batasan, sifat, mutu dari sesuatu
mekanisme, teleologisme, vitalisme dan
organisme.
ONTOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE FOR
SCIENTIFIC WORLD
– Ontology gives a basis on which scientific
assumptions are made and helps create
interdisciplinary
and
multidisciplinary
communications.
Ontology helps create reality mapping, scopes of
science, and possible combination between
sciences.
– For example: poverty cannot only be analysed by
economic science. Ontology allows us to seek other
realities that are not reached by the economic science. It
therefore needs help from political science and
sociology.
EPISTEMOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
SOURCES, MEANS, PROCESS,
METHODOLOGY, EVIDENCE
EPISTEMOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
MEANS OF LEGITIMACY FOR THE SCIENCE TO
VALIDATE PARTICULAR SCIENCE DISCIPLINE
METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORKS OF
SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT
MEANS OF DEVELOPING PROCESS SKILLS
MEANS OF DEVELOPING CREATIVE AND
INNOVATIVE ABILITY
AXIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
– VALUE CONSIDERATION (ETHICAL,
MORAL, AND RELIGIOUS) IN INVENTING,
APPLYING AND DEVELOPING SCIENCE
AXIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
– AXIOLOGY GIVES DIRECTION TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE
– AXIOLOGY DEVELOPS SCIENTIFIC
ETHICS OF A PROFESSIONAL AND A
SCIENTIST
INTEGRATIVE
AND
SYSTEMIC
FORMS
OF
ONTOLOGY, EPISTEMOLOGY, AND AXIOLOGY:
Idealism brings about implication of irrational
approaches. The idealism methodology is speculative
and deals with utopia imperatives.
Rationalism brings about implication of rational
approaches. Its idealism methodology is logical.
Realism-based knowledge has an implication to
empirical approaches. Its realism methodology is
inductive with hedonistic imperative norm.
Criticism-based knowledge has an implication to critical
approaches. Its methodology is synthetic with
eudaemonistical imperative norm.
Vary -isms:
–Idealism : The true knowledge is an
ideal world (Plato)
–Realism : The true knowledge is what is
seen and absorbed by senses (Aristotle)
–Criticism : Knowledge is based on ideal
and senses (Immanuel Kant)
PRINCIPLES OF OF SCIENTIFIC
THINKING
Objective :
– Focused/intense
– To look at just the way it is
Rational :
– Healthy, or logical, thinking without particular
feeling, emotion, belief system, and authority
Logical :
– Consistent, implicative
Metodological
– The use of particular scientific method:
induction, deduction, synthesis, intuition.
Systematical :
– Interconnected and holistic structure of
thinking
– Chronological steps towards clear goals
THEORY OF SCIENTIFIC TRUTH
COHERRENCE THEORY
– Truth is measured by logical interconnection
between its statements/propositions.
CORRESPONDENCE THEORY
– Truth is measured by its evidence based on
principles of empirical match.
PRAGMATIC THEORY
– Truth is measured by the presence of utility.
– Truth is truth when it is utilized.
MEANS OF SCIENTIFIC THINKING
Language
– Unambigous: no ambiguity, standard
– Grammatical : according to conduct of
language
Mathematics/Statistics
Logics: principles of consistent thinking
ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN DEVELOPING
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Development of science and technology is
inevitable or unstoppable
Science and technolgy always have positive and
negative impacts
Science and technology will give advantage to
human only if they are controlled by value
sistems of ethics-moral-religion
Once they are beyond the value control, science
and technology will only destroy human life.
PROBLEM SOLUTION
IN DEVELOPING SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
Science and technology must refer to their
ontological, epistemological, and
axiological bases.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH