Philosophy in Dialogue with Other Sciences on the Example of Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas

Separation of natural sciences from philosophy and the development of empirical sciences were long processes that led to mistrust and even opposition between philosophers and naturalists. This paper responds to the question how to re-establish dialogue between philosophy and other sciences. Authors propose a solution in the so-called model of the dialogically open philosophy of two famous philosophers and theologians Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas. Albert and Aquinas lived in era of change and an era of meeting different cultures and opinions. In that time of diversity, they created a model of dialogue with all those who think differently. Moreover, as a solution to misunderstandings at any level of discussion, they offered a dialogically open philosophy that presupposes (1) faith in reason; (2) the primacy of truth; (3) acknowledgment of borders; (4) respect; (5) appreciation of history; (6) distinguishing reality from materiality and (7) distinguishing operational from essential. By insight into the characteristics of Albert's and Aquinas' model of dialogue we demonstrate that their approach to discussion may be adequate solution for the contemporary re-establishment of dialogue between philosophy and other sciences because it ensures the primacy of truth to all participants in the dialogue.