Platon i moderne prirodne nauke

Abstract

Između Platonovog pojma nauke (episteme) i modernog pojma nauke postoje gotovo nepremostive razlike, ali i određene sličnosti. U poznim dijalozima kao što su Teetet, Fileb, ili Timaj, Platon u izvesnoj meri redefiniše sopstveni pojam znanja koji je razvio u Državi. Pravo znanje se ne mora odnositi isključivo na nepromenljive aspekte stvarnosti. Platonova karakterizacija kosmologije kao eikos logos-a ("verovatne" priče, eng. likely story) u dijalogu Timaj predstavlja jedan vid anticipacije koncepta opovrgljivosti, koji dominira modernom filozofijom nauke. Iskustvo i osmatranje, te matematički, psihološki i biološki pojmovi, zauzimaju značajno, neizostavno mesto u strukturi Timajevog kosmološkog modela.

There are almost irreconcilable differences between Plato's notion of science (episteme) and the modern notion, but also certain similarities. In the late dialogues such as The Theaetetus, The Philebus, and The Timaeus, Plato redefines his own notion of knowledge developed in The Republic to some extent. Genuine knowledge does not refer solely to the unchangeable aspects of reality. Plato's characterization of cosmology as an eikos logos ("likely story") in The Timaeus is an anticipation of the concept of falsifiabilit that dominates modern philosophy of science. Experience and observation, as well as mathematical, psychological and biological concepts, occupy a significant, indispensable place within the structure of Timaeus' cosmological model.