[Philosophy, a mirror for science?].

Abstract

The author regrets the lack of philosophical knowledge (in circles of dentistry) to judge the scientific base of research. The western epistemology is explained by referring to the models of reasoning used in both medicine and dentistry. Referring to the 17th century philosophers, the methodical doubt, the genesis of more general points of view, the problem of measurement, the set up of experiments and the formulation of laws are discussed. Referring to the 18th and 19th century philosophers, the question of perception, correlation, interaction with the experiment and hypothesis relating to their probability are discussed. The 20th century philosophers are the occasion to discuss the influence of experimental models on data, the problem of the operation of this information, of the scientific terminology and of variability of theories, data and methods. The author claims a formation in scientifical philosophy for postgraduate students and is also emphasizing that students in the basic education level should be able to deal with scientific literature in a critical way.