Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences
| AMFIBIOS |
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Book edition of the Department of philosophy and history of science in cooperation with Pavel Mervart (publisher) (ISSN 1801-5093). Editors: Tomáš Hermann & Karel Kleisner
Why AMFIBIOS? This composite word coming from ancient Greek worlds AMFI (on both sides) and BIOS (life) marks a creature living two lifes, usually living on and crossing the boundaries of two elements: water and earth (land). Simply, an amphibian. This word can be found in the works of both creators of our ideals and illusions - Democrit and Plato. Alhough amphibians are firmly bound to water, they spend the first part of their lifes in it and the other on land. Their natural life-cycle usually involves the metamorphosis of water larvae (with external gills) into adults, that move to the land and breathe with lungs. They return into water only to reproduce. Their bodies allow them to live happily on land and water. The skill to live under the rule of multiple elements - even if not so perfectly as their exclusive inhabitants - is the basic skill of this class of creatures, a skill that named them. In a similar way our edition is named. Ambiguity and amphibiousness do represent a position and state of our department as well. We don't imply the fundamental division between philosophy and science only - there are other dichotomies involved, such as the two scientific cultures (science and humainities) or the methodological and contentual diversity within individual areas and subjects, within individual elements. Scientists are in love with their methods, but the method loves science even more. "Science" is nevertheless not the same as "method", which is again not equal with "thought" and so we could go on for eternity. Some would maybe not agree and identify method or science with thought. Those resemble an amphibian, who has never undergone his metamorphosis. He is not able to distinguish land from water, simply because he has never been on solid land. For him, water eguals land and science equals thought. Our aim is not to accent and acknowledge those differences and dichotomies of science and thought, on the contrary. It is necessary to accept that moving among several elements, several genres or even sciences demands the fine art of being able to differentiate them in the same extent as to find their mutual kinship.  |
