EXPERIMENTAL AND INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES IN PHILOSOPHY: METHODOLOGICAL CAVEATS

Philosophers, especially those who classify themselves as naturalists, seem to be increasingly interested in conducting empirical researches. One case is Experimental Philosophy, an emerging field that makes use of empirical data gathered through surveys following the same methods employed in the empirical sciences, notably in psychology, in order to present evidence in philosophical arguments or inquiries. Another example is offered by the active participation of philosophers in interdisciplinary research groups in the neurosciences. Nevertheless, philosophers are not experts in the methodology of empirical research. This is transparent in the most representative studies in experimental philosophy. In this paper, we present some cautionary remarks on the complexities of the methodology of the empirical sciences. The final recommendation is that to engage in interdisciplinary research groups, seeking to master the peculiarities of the many empirical research designs in the most different areas of science, is the wisest attitude.