The Young Medical Students Club, operating under the Department of Health, Culture, and Sports (HCS) of Üsküdar University, organized an event titled “Science Is Knowing Science”. In the program, attended by digital content creator Fikret Çetin, the historical and conceptual link between science and philosophy was examined, and whether the source of knowledge could be limited solely to experiment and observation was discussed. Çetin, pointing out that true science is knowing what one needs to know, stated that scientific production is not limited solely to experiment and observation.
The event, held at Üsküdar University NP Health Campus Galenos conference hall, was attended by members of Üsküdar University Young Medical Students Club and students.
Fikret Çetin: ‘‘True science is knowing what you need to know’’
The talk with Fikret Çetin took place interactively with students.
Fikret Çetin evaluated the nature of modern science, its historical development, and the quality of knowledge from a critical perspective, focusing on philosophy, science, and religion. Çetin, using striking expressions regarding the importance of science, said; “Do you know why science is important? In fact, there is a very simple reason. Someone says 'These are worth knowing,' and you believe it's valuable. Thus, what needs to be known becomes what you are told is valuable. Religion, on the other hand, tells you, ‘Describe this world and your own state in a single word.’ And I express it as follows: ‘You are on a journey, soon the journey will end, and either a rest will begin or a greater ordeal. Therefore, you have no time for fun; you must do what needs to be done immediately.’ So, what should we do? True science is knowing what you need to know.”
The Albert Einstein example…
Çetin, stating that scientific production is not limited solely to experiment and observation, mentioned the example of Albert Einstein. Çetin said; “They asked Einstein, ‘Where and with what do you conduct your scientific work?’ He pointed to his pen and replied, ‘I do my scientific work with one thing. A pen and paper.’ All his work is theoretical; it all relies on mathematical calculations. As we discuss, the question 'Is this science or not?' comes up, but he states his approach by saying, ‘Everything I do consists of mathematical calculations.’”
The distinction between science and philosophy was discussed
Fikret Çetin, also touching upon the historical origins of the distinction between science and philosophy, emphasized that these two fields were intertwined in the past. Çetin, giving examples through Isaac Newton, said; “Newton's book is titled Principia, which means ‘Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy’. He is concerned with gravity, but he calls what he does ‘natural philosophy’. In fact, he is saying here, ‘Nature has a philosophy, and it has mathematical foundations; I am trying to lay out these foundations.’ Today, when you complete a doctorate, the title you receive is PhD, which stands for ‘Philosophy Doctor’. In a sense, when you get a doctorate, you acquire the title of ‘philosophy instructor’. For example, someone who does a doctorate in physics is also, in this sense, a ‘doctor of philosophy’. What is truly striking here is that the field we call science was formerly referred to as natural philosophy. So, when did we start thinking of science separately from natural philosophy? When this distinction emerged, what changed, what was added, that the definition of ‘natural philosophy’ began to become insufficient?” he stated.
The event concluded with a group photo session.