%0 Journal Article
%T The re-appreciation of the humanities in contemporary philosophy of science: From recognition to exaggeration?
%A Renato Coletto
%J Koers : Bulletin for Christian Scholarship
%D 2013
%I AOSIS OpenJournals
%R http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/koers.v78i2.64
%X In the course of the centuries, the ¡®reputation¡¯ and status attributed to the humanities underwent different phases. One of their lowest moments can be traced during the positivist period. This article explored the reasons underlying the gradual re-evaluation of the scientific status and relevance of the humanities in the philosophy of science of the 20th century. On the basis of a historical analysis it was argued that on the one hand such recognition is positive because it abolishes an unjustified prejudice that restricted the status of ¡®science¡¯ to the natural sciences. On the other hand it was argued that the reasons behind such recognition might not always be sound and may be inspired by (and lead to) a certain relativism harbouring undesired consequences. In the final part of this article (dedicated to Prof. J.J. [Ponti] Venter) a brief ¡®postscript¡¯ sketched his evaluation of the role of philosophy.
%K Philosophy of science
%U http://koersjournal.org.za/index.php/koers/article/view/64