A Foundation for Scientific Inquiry

Abstract

Philosophy, particularly its subfields like metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and logic, is usually first encountered at the university level. Among these, metaphysics is considered the most abstract and puzzling. Metaphysics, as the study of the fundamental nature of reality, often raises questions about its placement in Humanities rather than Sciences. Jacques Maritain, a neo-Thomist, argues that metaphysics is foundational to science and deems it the "highest science." The Vienna Circle (logical positivists) claimed that metaphysical propositions are meaningless because they cannot be empirically verified. Their aim was to replace metaphysics with a scientifically grounded philosophy, rejecting transcendental and traditional metaphysics. Critics like Feibleman argue that logical positivists misunderstood the nuances of metaphysics and failed to fully eliminate its role. This paper contends that metaphysics, though not a science like the natural sciences, is vital for scientific development. To address this, the paper analyses the logical positivism’s rejection of metaphysics, the essential relationship between metaphysics and science and the contributions of philosophers to scientific methodology, emphasizing metaphysics as indispensable to scientific progress. It concludes that metaphysics is integral to understanding and advancing science despite its abstract nature and challenges in empirical verification.