Introduction

Abstract

This chapter introduces the notion of natural philosophy and argues for its retrieval as a viable disciplinary category following its fragmentation in the last two centuries. This does not amount to an uncritical or nostalgic return to the past, but to reclaiming ideas that ought never to have been lost. The chapter reflects on the history and potential value of natural philosophy, and distinguishes between ‘natural philosophy’ and ‘natural science’. As recent discussions of progress in philosophy make clear, some philosophical ideas are ripe for reconsideration and engagement. This chapter considers how retrieving natural philosophy might fit into this framework.