This blog post delves deeply into why philosophy of science serves as an essential academic foundation for STEM students, going beyond mere liberal arts education.
The philosophy of science is extremely important. It addresses the discovery and articulation of critical questions, clear thinking and expression, argumentation, and persuasion. This not only provides an essential foundation for their major studies but also holds significant meaning regardless of their field of study.
Seoul National University in Korea offers two courses in the philosophy of science: one is ‘Philosophical Understanding of Science,’ and the other is ‘Critical Thinking in Science.’ These courses use Thomas Kuhn’s ‘The Structure of Scientific Revolutions’ and Ronald Jeri’s ‘Understanding Scientific Reasoning’ as textbooks, respectively. As the course names suggest, both subjects deal with philosophical reflections on science.
Foundational disciplines provide a crucial basis for pursuing specialized fields, and the importance of other core liberal arts subjects cannot be overlooked. However, it is undesirable that philosophy of science is not offered as a required liberal arts course. This is not merely because these subjects deal with the humanities centered on science, but because they possess a unique significance absent in other liberal arts courses.
An important aspect is missing from Korea’s high school science and engineering curricula. While individual differences exist, science and engineering students generally spend their school years focused on practicing basic problem-solving in mathematics and science. The problem is that even if mathematics is based on logic itself, science subjects like physics and chemistry also place excessive emphasis on problem-solving. Physics, to the extent that it can be considered a slightly different kind of mathematics, prioritizes the process of solving problems by applying standardized formulas. While applying formulas to problem situations is an important part of physics, it does not sufficiently provide opportunities to understand the meaning of physics as a science and the development process of its theories. Problem-solving that demands answers that fall neatly into whole numbers, without even needing decimals, leaves little room for deep thinking. If a formula can be plugged in to yield an answer, the theory is often perceived as flawless. This educational background is highly likely to foster misunderstandings about science or an uncritical attitude toward it.
The philosophy of science course guides students to examine science from its origins, through philosophical considerations of its methods of argumentation, to critical analysis of hypotheses and models. It helps them contemplate the very essence of science itself, rather than merely accepting it as knowledge. This experience is unique because it provides not only humanistic literacy but also a correct and deep understanding of the science relevant to their major. Philosophy of science helps STEM students break free from potentially narrow thinking and ensures their major studies do not remain a simple extension of high school learning. It offers students, who may have previously focused solely on memorizing formulas and theories, the opportunity to break existing frameworks, understand science more accurately and deeply, and think critically.
Furthermore, philosophy of science can be immensely beneficial for students preparing for more advanced major studies. Critical thinking is often cited as an essential attitude for learners to adopt, because critically examining any subject leads to clearer understanding. In major studies, philosophy of science can positively influence this aspect. Just as foundational disciplines are core tools for academic practice, philosophy of science can function not merely as an academic tool but as an academic weapon. It can offer students benefits beyond just English and math skills.
To summarize, the reason philosophy of science holds greater significance than other core liberal arts subjects is not merely its peripheral value, but its direct relevance to the student’s individual major. The historical and philosophical insights provided by philosophy of science offer a depth that even major courses or foundational science cannot provide. While majors and foundational science focus on the outcomes of science, philosophy of science encompasses the attempt to understand the discipline of science itself.
Moreover, philosophy of science can be as beneficial to academic practice as the skills cultivated by foundational disciplines. Reading can be an ideal solution to address the shortcomings of high school education. For instance, Thomas Kuhn’s ‘The Structure of Scientific Revolutions’ is also included in Seoul National University’s recommended reading list of 100 books. If students naturally encounter this book, the importance of philosophy of science argued here might not be dismissed as mere personal opinion.
However, given the lack of reading experience during high school, balancing reading alongside the demanding schedule of university life is by no means easy. If there are science and engineering students who voluntarily read books on the philosophy of science, they would be quite rare among the entire student body.
The proposal to foster a reading culture may be overly unrealistic in Korean society, which has been competition-oriented and hierarchy-centered until now. Ultimately, students need a foundation to properly understand science, and the place where this is possible and must be achieved is the university. If the university’s ideal is to cultivate students as true intellectuals, this aligns with that goal. For science and engineering students, the philosophy of science reveals the history and essence of their field, and knowing and learning this makes a significant difference compared to not doing so.
Just as it is foolish to discuss the future without knowing history, acquiring knowledge without understanding the roots and history of science is no different from becoming a mere technician. Providing philosophy of science as a required liberal arts course in training specialists will play a crucial role in cultivating true engineers, not just technicians.
