1. According to Wikipedia, science can be divided into empirical science (such as natural science and social science) and formal science (such as mathematics, logic, statistics). I was wondering if philosophy belongs to empirical science or formal science?

   I think it belongs to the formal science, because I think scientific method is what characterize empirical science and philosophy lacks it.

   However philosophy is listed as an area of social science, and social science belongs to empirical science. So it looks like philosophy belongs to empirical science?

2. If philosophy belongs to neither, what does it belong to?

   I have read a previous post regarding if philosophy belongs to science or science belongs to philosophy, but the discussion there seems not clarify many things.

3. Note that in my questions above, by philosophy, I am considering not its obsolete ancient meaning, but its contemporary one

   Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. 1 It is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational argument.

   I also welcome alternative and maybe equivalent definition of philosophy that helps to distinct itself from non-philosophy.

Thanks and regards!

1. According to Wikipedia, science can be divided into empirical science (such as natural science and social science) and formal science (such as mathematics, logic, statistics). I was wondering if philosophy belongs to empirical science or formal science?

   I think it belongs to the formal science, because I think scientific method is what characterize empirical science and philosophy lacks it.

   However philosophy is listed as an area of social science, and social science belongs to empirical science. So it looks like philosophy belongs to empirical science?

2. If philosophy belongs to neither, what does it belong to?

   I have read a previous post regarding if philosophy belongs to science or science belongs to philosophy, but the discussion there seems not clarify many things.

3. Note that in my questions above, by philosophy, I am considering not its obsolete ancient meaning, but its contemporary one

   Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. 1 It is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational argument.

   I also welcome alternative and maybe equivalent definition of philosophy that helps to distinct itself from non-philosophy.

Thanks and regards!