Philosophy in the Age of Science?: Inquiries into Philosophical Progress, Method, and Societal Relevance

Current academic philosophy is being challenged from several angles. Subdisciplinary specialisations often make it challenging to articulate philosophy’s relevance for the societal questions of our day.Additionally, the success of the ‘scientific method’ puts pressure on philosophers to articulate their methods and specify how these can be successful. How does philosophical progress come about? What can philosophy contribute to our understanding of today’s world? Moreover, can it also contribute to resolving urgent societal challenges, such as anthropogenic climate change?

This edited volume evaluates the place of philosophy in the age of science. It addresses three related sub-themes: philosophical progress, philosophical method and philosophy’s societal relevance. Fourteen authors engage with these sub-themes, focusing on the topics of their philosophical expertise, such as the philosophy of religion, evolutionary ethics and the nature of free will. In doing so, they explore their methods of enquiry, and look at how progress in their research comes about.

Julia Hermann is an Assistant Professor in Ethics of Technology at Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands.

Jeroen Hopster is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Utrecht University, working at the intersection of Ethics and Philosophy of Science, Netherlands.

Wouter Kalf is University Lecturer in Practical Philosophy at Leiden University, Netherlands.

Michael Klenk is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the ERC-funded project ‘Value Change’ at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.