PHILOSOPHY, THE MOTHER OF ALL SCIENCES: A CHALLENGE TO FUTURE SCIENTISTS

*Obasi Samuel Ugochukwu & Prof. Jude A Onuoha

ABSTRACT

The problem is that the ills of modernity, inability for reflective and meditative lifestyle and asking the important “why” questions, and life of consumerism generated by the arrogance of scientism have downplayed the utmost importance of philosophy, relegating it to the background. But the timeless character of philosophy, the mother of all sciences defies all the barrels of attacks levelled against it by scientism. Its eternal nature, as the primordial foundation of all human knowledge, is made possible because of its operation at the rational and conceptual realms unlike science. Attacks on it could be likened to the perching of a grasshopper on the trunk of an iroko tree with the sole aim of shaking it to push it down which is unrealizable. Through conceptual and critical analysis, this paper unveiled the inherent sturdy nature of philosophy that defies unfoundational attacks from scientism, which on itself (science), is somehow built on debris, with particular reference to its unstability given its unending paradigm shifts in contrast to philosophy which it always attacks. The paper concludes that philosophy is not dead, irrelevant, a meaningless venture as purported, but important, valid, enduring, and a challenge to future scientists that should pursue the path of philosophy in solidifying the foundation of science.

Keywords: Philosophy, Science, Scientism, Relevance, Contemporary Society.