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| Allegory of Science, by Sebastiano Conca |
There are
different kinds of sciences. Some are rigorous and have great predictive power,
others less, others practically none. Let us look at a classification of the
sciences:
·
Formal sciences: They
start from axioms or postulates, more or less unassailable, and use deduction as the main method of
reasoning. A few play the role of fundamental basis for other sciences. In this
group, we can include mathematics, logic and theoretical computer science.
·
Natural sciences: They
use induction as the main
method of reasoning. Their objective is to discover fundamental laws that explain the working of the world. They
rely more or less on logic and mathematics. These sciences include (in order of
decreasing rigor) physics and astronomy; chemistry; biology, geology and
paleontology.
·
Social Sciences: They
use abduction as the main
method of reasoning (see an
earlier article in this blog). Their object of study is man or society.
These sciences include psychology, economics, sociology, anthropology,
politics, archeology and history.
·
Finally, the applied sciences, whose objective is to
develop practical applications from the theoretical knowledge provided by the
experimental and social sciences. They usually associate under the name of technology, although there are
some disciplines that fall outside that umbrella, such as legal sciences,
applied economics, medicine, or applied psychology.
