History and Philosophy of Science as a Continuation of Science by Other Means

Abstract

History and philosophy of science can serve the function of investigating scientific questions that are excluded by science itself. Because many things need to be protected from questioning and criticism in specialist science, its demonstrated effectiveness is also unavoidably accompanied by a loss of knowledge and a degree of dogmatism. History and philosophy of science can ameliorate this situation by working as a shadow discipline complementing specialist science in the production of knowledge about nature. In this enterprise the connection between philosophy of science and history of science is essential, since the questions that get consigned to the realm of philosophy are often, and not accidentally, the same ones buried in the historical record of past science. Some examples are given illustrating the complementary mode of history and philosophy of science, and its relations to other modes of study in history of science and philosophy of science are also examined.