Topics Science

Question In what way do the social sciences and natural sciences differ as science? Are the social sciences "less" scientific?

Accepted:
April 3, 2008

Comments

A great deal has been written on that, and opinions vary. I willjust give you mine. 'Science' and 'scientific' are not themselves terms of science. Somephilosophers have attempted to give the terms a clear meaning (KarlPopper, for example). I think they have failed. And I don't think thatthe ordinary language terms 'science' or 'scientific' are very clear oruseful. So I would suggest that your questions aren't good ones.Further, there are many branches of natural science and many branchesof the social sciences and there is probably little to be learnt fromcarving the whole lot into two groups and trying to compare andcontrast them. Better: look at each branch of study that interests youand see if the theoretical claims are properly justified.

Question In what way do the social sciences and natural sciences differ as science? Are the social sciences "less" scientific? Accepted:April 3, 2008

Question In what way do the social sciences and natural sciences differ as science? Are the social sciences "less" scientific?

Accepted:
April 3, 2008