What Would It Take to Put a Philosopher in Every Scientific Laboratory?

Philosophers are poised to make substantive contributions to the natural sciences. However, scientists continue to doubt philosophy’s relevance. This is because philosophers frequently only emphasize their potential contribution of “philosophical thinking” in the development of scientific theories and concepts. This neglects philosophy’s other potential contributions to the professionalized lives of scientists. In this chapter, I highlight seven potential contributions philosophers can make in the professionalized lives of scientists: the conceptual-analytical, historical, innovational, technological, ethical, systemic, and pedagogical. I identify the systemic obstacles within academia and industry that hinder philosophers from making these important contributions, and which prevent the inclusion of philosophers as ubiquitous, fully operational personnel within scientific laboratories. I then consider how scientists and “laboratory philosophers” will shape their future working relationships. Finally, this chapter makes eight recommendations towards actualizing the full potential of philosophical contributions to the professionalized lives of scientists.