

68 | Peter Godfrey-Smith and middle class science
4 snips Jan 14, 2025
Peter Godfrey-Smith, a renowned Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Sydney, dives into the complex interplay between creativity in science and philosophy. He discusses how scientists operate within structured paradigms while philosophers have more freedom. The conversation highlights the role of 'middle-class science'—independent labs that foster innovation—illustrated by breakthroughs like CRISPR. Peter also draws a captivating parallel between the transition of night to day and the evolution of scientific thought, reminiscent of Händel's aria.
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Science vs. Philosophy
- Science prioritizes the tractable and feasible, merging speculative ideas with empirical data.
- This differs from philosophy, where creativity isn't limited by testability.
The Lamarck Incident
- A young biologist mentioned "Lamarck" in a lab meeting, a forbidden word among geneticists.
- The room fell silent, highlighting the constrained language within normal science paradigms.
Value of Criticism
- Negative criticism from reviewers can indicate that research is truly novel and impactful.
- This contrasts with Kuhn's normal science where some questions are discouraged.