The Field of aBetweena a A New Principle for Interdisciplinary Epistemology
Contrary to the established field of mathematical philosophy, interdisciplinary research in physics and philosophy is not well known. Of course, there are the writings of physicists for the nonscientific public introducing selected topics for mass media distribution. Yet in the presentation of highly advanced theories to an audience of physicists, reflections on philosophy do not have a place. On the other hand, reports are written by specialists in scientific theory in which the authors oppose the traditional philosophy of continental Europe. Since the 19th century renowned philosophers have put forward theories interpreting areas of natural science, trying to insert them into the framework of methods traditionally applied in natural philosophy. What is lacking is an interdisciplinary philosophical reflection for contemporary science in which a philosopher is able to grasp the principles of physical thinking, reflecting physical theory in relation to the fundamental philosophical conception of the subject: ‘What is Truth’. To achieve this purpose for interdisciplinary research, philosophers should have a fundamental knowledge of physics. Vice versa, physicists should also learn the purpose of philosophical reflection and what the goals of philosophy are. The philosophy of science does not offer the same explanations for theories in physics or other natural sciences, but its goal is a fundamental reflection of ‘What is truth’, as a common basis for different intellectual disciplines.
