5

Examples for natural sciences: physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology.

Social sciences: psychology, sociology, criminology, psychiatry, political science, human geography, demography, economics, history, anthropology, archaeology, etc.

Natural science has:

  • very good mathematical laws
  • algorithms to predict phenomena based on solid theories.

Social science:

  • follows the scientific model in lab reports
  • based on hypothesising general theories.

Is social science actually a science even despite the differences in the sue of some of the core elements of natural sciences? If so, should it be called something else other than science?

Improve this question
7
  • 3
    Is there a question in here? Is the question the one in the title? Also, if the question is in the title I'm not sure what the body of your question is. Is that your answer? I'm not sure what you're after here so some clarification would be nice. As it stands it seems like you're trying to solicit discussion.
    – Dennis
    Commented Feb 16, 2013 at 9:08
  • 1
    Is there any chance you might be able to formulate this somewhat more neutrally and proportionately? It seems unnecessarily pejorative and reductive to start from the position that the human sciences aren't science.
    – Joseph Weissman ♦
    Commented Feb 16, 2013 at 14:57
  • 3
    FWIW, I think it's a valid question and I think the answer is "not really, not across the board anyway", but approaching it with more tact and attention to detail (especially the detail of the requirements for something to be science which is not logically that you find mathematical laws) is the best chance for learning something or coming to a solid conclusion. It is true that finding mathematical laws is a great way of preventing social pressures from overriding the requirement for evidence to fit well with a theory (and to show when there is more to do), but it's not the only way.
    – Rex Kerr
    Commented Feb 16, 2013 at 16:03
  • 2
    I added a vote for re-opening. Although I still think the question is a bit hard to answer, at least now it isn't a leading question (at least not as much).
    – Dennis
    Commented Feb 17, 2013 at 5:58
  • 2
    Just to try to be clear -- I do think the general subject is interesting, I just think there are a lot more specific and constructive concerns we can pose here relating to it.
    – Joseph Weissman ♦
    Commented Feb 17, 2013 at 19:27

0

Reset to default

Browse other questions tagged .