The Enigma Of The Universe : (B) Idealism Of Scientist And Jain View

As philosophy is implicit in the methods of scientific advancement, it is said that there is an ascertainable present day philosophy of physical science.^[1] Being essentially a branch of human knowledge, science cannot be divorced from philosophy. But to call the view of a particular scientist “the philosophy of science” does not seem to be correct. Prof. Margenau has rightly remarked: “This need not occasion surprise for it is well known that scientists, at least in those fields which we call the exact sciences, agree on matters falling in their specific domain but hold widely differing views with regard to reality. Some like Planck and Einstein are critical realists, others, notably Eddington and Weyl, are moderate idealists, while Bohr and Heisenberg vaguely display the colours of positivism and rest somewhat indifferent towards our problem.”^[3] Margenau has further believed that within limits even a solipsist can be a successful physicist.^[2] Thus, it is not plausible to regard the view of a particular scientist on reality as ‘the philosophy of science’.