IS PHILOSOPHY NEEDED TO SOLUTION THE PROBLEMSOF MODERN PHYSICS? (RESPONDING TO STEPHEN HAWKING)

The article considers the ideological and methodological issues of solving the problems of development of scientific knowledge in physics. The authors do not claim to solve specific problems of science, but seek to reveal the role of philosophical generalization in scientific search and solution of problems of creation of the general theory of the Universe. It is noted that S. Hawking managed to present the modern physical picture of the world in an accessible and popular form. The authors believe that the main problem identified by him in modern physics is the problem of incompatibility of two main concepts describing the modern physical picture of the world. These concepts are the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. The authors share S. Hawking’s point of view that scientific search should lead to the synthesis of these theories in a broader quantum theory of gravity. At the same time, the authors object to two provisions of S. Hawking’s work. The first is the assertion that the creation of a unified quantum theory of gravity is still a very long time coming, the second is the assertion that philosophy can give nothing to modern physical science. The position on the impossibility of creating a new comprehensive physical theory in the near future contradicts what S. Hawking himself says about the state of modern physics. He claims that physicists already know what features this theory should have. In this regard, using the system of inequalities of A.S. Panarin, according to which theoretical knowledge should develop at an accelerated pace in relation to applied knowledge, the authors come to the conclusion that philosophical knowledge sets the area of the possible, and, consequently, the area and vector of scientific research for special sciences. Knowledge of the parameters that a new scientific theory must meet narrows the area of scientific research, leads to saving intellectual efforts and, ultimately, accelerates the creation of a unified physical theory that can describe all phenomena of the world. Moreover, formal logic itself allows us to limit the possible solutions to this issue. The authors approach the solution of the problem of the importance of philosophical knowledge for physics from the position of science research put forward by T. Kuhn. This allows them to substantiate their position on the importance of philosophical knowledge for the development of science. T. Kuhn distinguishes two stages in the development of science. Normal science is a stage at which the development of science goes “in breadth” within the framework of an existing paradigm, scientists solve “standard problems” that do not require a revision of the fundamental laws of science. Scientific revolution is a period of scientific development during which one paradigm is replaced by another paradigm, scientists’ ideas about the fundamental laws of the world’s existence change. It is at the stage of scientific revolution that the role of philosophical generalization increases, since the revision of the fundamental laws of the universe requires going beyond a narrow discipline, abandoning established “templates” of thinking. The authors agree with S. Hawking’s opinion that philosophers do not know modern physics, and this does not allow them to outline the area of scientific research for physicists. This is due to the fact that the volume of modern knowledge has increased so much that in order to be at the forefront of science, a scientist is forced to work in a highly specialized field. Narrow specialization does not allow a scientist to make broad philosophical generalizations. But S. Hawking himself notes that scientific knowledge is gradually spreading. Today, most people have heard of the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, and there are hundreds of people who at least superficially know what these theories are about. Thus, the dissemination of scientific knowledge raises the level of society, including philosophers, to an understanding of modern science. On the other hand, there is a need for a broader philosophical training of mathematicians and physicists who will be capable of philosophical generalization, which will allow going beyond the existing paradigms of science and creating a quantum theory of gravity.