The Role of the Philosophy of Science in Critical Thinking and Ethical Decision-Making: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52690/jswse.v7i1.1343Keywords:
Critical Thinking, Ethical Decision Making, Philosophy of Science, Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
The philosophy of science plays a vital role in shaping scientific inquiry, guiding the way knowledge is constructed, validated, and applied across disciplines. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding its relevance and application in the context of contemporary education and technology. Therefore, this study aims to systematically review recent research trends and conceptual developments related to the philosophy of science within the 21st-century academic landscape. This study employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach using publications indexed in Scopus from 2015 to 2025. A total of 85 articles were analyzed through bibliometric mapping and qualitative synthesis to identify emerging patterns and dominant themes. The results reveal three major synthesized themes: (1) the integration of the philosophy of science in educational practices to strengthen epistemological awareness; (2) its role in navigating the ethical and epistemic challenges of digital technology; and (3) its contribution to fostering critical and reflective scientific thinking. The novelty of this study lies in highlighting the evolving interface between philosophy of science and technological transformation in education. Practically, the findings provide a conceptual framework for integrating philosophical reflection into scientific and technological curricula. This study contributes to the advancement of science and technology by offering a holistic understanding of how philosophical foundations can support the development of responsible, innovative, and reflective scientific practices.
References
Bruno, G. (2024). Rethinking AI with Transformative Philosophy Upskilling our technology views to guide the digital transition. Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering, 10(4), 272–275. https://doi.org/10.1515/cdbme-2024-2066
Büyükkidik, S. (2022). A Bibliometric Analysis: A Tutorial for the Bibliometrix Package in R Using IRT Literature. Journal of Measurement and Evaluation in Education and Psychology, 13(3), 164–193. https://doi.org/10.21031/EPOD.1069307
Cheng, S. (2022). Exploring the role of translators’ emotion regulation and critical thinking ability in translation performance. In Frontiers in Psychology (Vol. 13). Frontiers Media S.A. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1037829
Fitria, D., Husaeni, A., & Munir, M. (2023). Literature Review and Bibliometric Mapping Analysis: Philosophy of Science and Technology Education. Indonesian Journal of Multidisiplinary Research, 3(2), 219–234. https://doi.org/10.17509/xxxx.xxx
Hambali, A., Herniawati, A., & Hidayat, Y. (2024). Scope of the Philosophy of Science: A Review of Philosophical Education. Journal Corner of Education, Linguistics, and Literature, 3(3), 231–240. https://doi.org/10.54012/jcell.v3i3.263
Hirt, J., Nordhausen, T., Appenzeller-Herzog, C., & Ewald, H. (2023). Citation tracking for systematic literature searching: A scoping review. In Research Synthesis Methods (Vol. 14, Issue 3, pp. 563–579). John Wiley and Sons Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrsm.1635
Ho, Y. R., Chen, B. Y., & Li, C. M. (2023). Thinking more wisely: using the Socratic method to develop critical thinking skills amongst healthcare students. BMC Medical Education, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04134-2
Imam, M. A., Ahmad, S., Bhatti, M. A. A., & Afzal, M. (2023). Contextualizing Research Approaches: The Role of Western and Islamic Philosophies in Shaping Methodology and Knowledge Creation. Al-Irfan, 8(16), 69–90. https://doi.org/10.58932/MULB0029
Javadi, T., & Damayanti, R. (2025). The Role of Wisdom in Managerial Decision-Making: A Systematic Review with a Meta-Analytic Approach. European Journal of Studies in Management and Business, 34, 1–28. https://doi.org/10.32038/mbrq.2025.34.01
Martini, B., Bellisario, D., & Coletti, P. (2024). Human-Centered and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence in Industry 5.0: Challenges and Perspectives. Sustainability (Switzerland) , 16(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135448
Mohammed, Z. J., Alsadaji, A. J., Al-Saadi, S. F., & Al-Fayyadh, S. (2023). Components of Soft Skills for University Students in the 21st Century: An Overview of Literature Review. Med Edu Bull, 4(11). https://doi.org/10.22034/MEB.2023.389121.1076
Oluwatoyin Ajoke Farayola, Ejuma Martha Adaga, Zainab Efe Egieya, Sarah Kuzankah Ewuga, Adekunle Abiola Abdul, & Temitayo Oluwaseun Abrahams. (2024). Advancements in predictive analytics: A philosophical and practical overview. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 21(3), 240–252. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.3.2706
Özdemir, V., & Hekim, N. (2018). Birth of Industry 5.0: Making Sense of Big Data with Artificial Intelligence, “the Internet of Things” and Next-Generation Technology Policy. OMICS A Journal of Integrative Biology, 22(1), 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1089/omi.2017.0194
Phillips, W. J., Fletcher, J. M., Marks, A. D. G., & Hine, D. W. (2016). Thinking styles and decision making: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 142(3), 260–290. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000027
Rashid, R. (2020). Training STEM Ph.D. Students to Deal with Moral Dilemmas. Science and Engineering Ethics, 26(3), 1861–1872. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-019-00174-4
Rethlefsen, M. L., & Page, M. J. (2022). PRISMA 2020 and PRISMA-S: common questions on tracking records and the flow diagram. In Journal of the Medical Library Association (Vol. 110, Issue 2, pp. 253–257). Medical Library Association. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2022.1449
Rifqi, A., Dewi, E., & Aziz, M. Z. (2024). Dissecting the Foundations of the Philosophy of Science: Ontology, Epistemology, and Axiology in a Contemporary Perspective. International Journal of Education, 4(3). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.52121/ijessm.v4i3.569
Sarkis-Onofre, R., Catalá-López, F., Aromataris, E., & Lockwood, C. (2021). How to properly use the PRISMA Statement. In Systematic Reviews (Vol. 10, Issue 1). BioMed Central Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01671-z
Storozhyk, M. (2024). Philosophy of future: analytical overview of interaction between education, science, and artificial intelligence in the context of contemporary challenges. Futurity Philosophy, 23–47. https://doi.org/10.57125/fp.2024.03.30.02
Tavares, M. C., Azevedo, G., & Marques, R. P. (2022). The Challenges and Opportunities of Era 5.0 for a More Humanistic and Sustainable Society—A Literature Review. Societies, 12(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/soc12060149
Turan, U., Fidan, Y., & Yıldıran, C. (2019). Critical Thinking as a Qualified Decision Making Tool. Journal of History Culture and Art Research, 8(4), 1. https://doi.org/10.7596/taksad.v8i4.2316
Turyahikayo, E. (2021). Philosophical paradigms as the bases for knowledge management research and practice. Knowledge Management and E-Learning, 13(2), 209–224. https://doi.org/10.34105/j.kmel.2021.13.012
Verawati, N. N. S. P., & Sarjan, M. (2023). The Philosophy of Critical Thinking in Problem-Based Science Learning. Prisma Sains : Jurnal Pengkajian Ilmu Dan Pembelajaran Matematika Dan IPA IKIP Mataram, 11(4), 992. https://doi.org/10.33394/j-ps.v11i4.9101
Weidman, B., & Salisbury, H. (2020). Critical Thinking in Health Sciences and How It Pertains to Sonography Education: A Review of the Literature. In Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Vol. 36, Issue 3, pp. 244–250). SAGE Publications Inc. https://doi.org/10.1177/8756479320908216
Yoder, K. J., & Decety, J. (2018). The neuroscience of morality and social decision-making. In Psychology, Crime and Law (Vol. 24, Issue 3, pp. 279–295). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2017.1414817
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Nerma Jelestari, Elni Septi, Sunayah Sunayah, Yeni Astria, Dewi Angraini
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
