It's a false dilemma. Science is the most successful branch of
   Philosophy, THANKS TO changes in social structure, engineering
   capabilities due to advances in technology and most of all to
   the Public Education system which brought this higher knowledges
   to the masses like you and me. If anything, thank what's called
   the democratization of education. Without that, everything's
   just for the elite. But by broadening the net, more minds can be
   captured, _capitalism_ can *fund* the sciences and technologies
   alike and also, you can thank: WAR. The militaries you have MOST
   TO To thank in the advancements of science. Up until the late
   1940s, Science was losing funding tremendously, thanks to
   advancements in technology and engineering alike. Research and
   Development was Development and Research. Pure research was
   getting less and less valid because we believed we had it
   figured out. As we always do. But a deliberate move to put
   Engineering *under* Science and change it's very definition to
   be "Applied Sciences" put Science on top. Before that, it was
   eggheads in Universities. Thanks to more than a little political
   saavy in the US Education masterminds, Science flipped to being
   on top. Good thing too, because pure research was almost on its
   way out. Another brilliant stroke of genius by... again, the US
   Education system, Science Technology, Engineering and
   Mathematics became lumped together, JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. Now
   you can freely talk "Science" and really mean math. Or talk
   "Science" and really mean Technology. Before that, they were
   more separate. Now they're considered "as one" which increases
   their political power.