Philosophy of science is part of a range of sub-disciplines known as "philosophy of X" (where X may be filled in with art, history, law, literature, or the various special sciences such as physics). Each of the activities for which there is a "philosophy of X" is an investigation into a certain part of the world or a particular type of human activity. What we will talk about today, in very general terms, is what distinguishes philosophy of X from sociology, history, or psychology of X. These approaches to science cannot be sharply demarcated, though many people have thought that they can be. However, there are clear differences of emphasis and methods of investigation between these approaches that we can outline here in a preliminary way.
Description:
Philosophy of science is part of a range of sub-disciplines known as "philosophy of X" (where X may be filled in with art, history, law, literature, or the various special sciences such as physics). Each of the activities for which there is a "philosophy of X" is an investigation into a certain part of the world or a particular type of human activity. What we will talk about today, in very general terms, is what distinguishes philosophy of X from sociology, history, or psychology of X. These approaches to science cannot be sharply demarcated, though many people have thought that they can be. However, there are clear differences of emphasis and methods of investigation between these approaches that we can outline here in a preliminary way.