Philosophies for the palaeosciences - A review

Abstract

The philosophy of historical sciences focusing on palaeontology, earth sciences, geology, ecology and evolutionary biology has been given much interest in the recent past. In this article, the focus is on the philosophies that are relevant to palaeosciences that only deal with the temporally disconnected past. Palaeosciences, an aggregate of sciences that deal with the past, are shown to be slightly different than the historical sciences. The questions that are attempted to be answered by reviewing the research literature are, 1) what are the appropriate metaphysical views and metaphysical guidelines for palaeosciences? 2) can a palaeoscientist follow multiple methodologies to understand the past and what are the philosophical foundations for that approach? and 3) are the palaeosciences, science? It is found that scientific realism seems to be the appropriate metaphysics for palaeosciences. Uniformity of process and simplicity (Ockham's razor) are shown to be necessary but not sufficient metaphysical guidelines for palaeosciences. Catastrophism and complexity may be invoked in explaining a palaeoscientific hypothesis on the availability of sufficient evidence. The disunity of sciences, epistemological pluralism, and methodological pluralism are shown to be beneficial philosophical views and strategies to do research in palaeosciences. The palaeosciences are science not on the basis of naïve falsifiability (Popper) but on sophisticated falsifiability (Lakatos) and family resemblance approach (Wittgenstein). Explained are the palaeoscientific methods such as 1) smoking gun with common cause explanation and 2) consilience when there is plenty of trace evidence recognized in the field (lucky circumstance) and, methodological omnivorous (Currie; unlucky circumstances). It is also shown that the misuse of palaeosciences can be minimized within Lakatosian methodological framework, and by the active participation of civil society in palaeoscientific research activities. A case study, on the color of the dinosaurs, is given to explain the salient features of palaeosciences as mentioned above.