- #1
smithpa9
- 40
- 22
Hello all -
While discussing Darwin's Origin of Species with a friend, I was asked, "Do you really consider that 'science' "?
My response was, "Yes." But upon reflection, the conversation made me realize I do not have a good definition of what science is and is not.
Even after reading several books written for the express purpose of defining science, I'm still uncertain.
The closest thing I can come up with for a defining characteristic is that to be science, the endevor must involve empirically testable hypotheses.
As such, physics and chemistry quickly meet that criteria.
But does evolutionary biology? geology? cosmology? One can't really rewind time and see what happened, or see what would happen if we were to recreate the Earth (geology), life (evolution), or the universe (cosmology).
So, what is science? And do these and other discipline's qualify? Why?
Battling Webster
While discussing Darwin's Origin of Species with a friend, I was asked, "Do you really consider that 'science' "?
My response was, "Yes." But upon reflection, the conversation made me realize I do not have a good definition of what science is and is not.
Even after reading several books written for the express purpose of defining science, I'm still uncertain.
The closest thing I can come up with for a defining characteristic is that to be science, the endevor must involve empirically testable hypotheses.
As such, physics and chemistry quickly meet that criteria.
But does evolutionary biology? geology? cosmology? One can't really rewind time and see what happened, or see what would happen if we were to recreate the Earth (geology), life (evolution), or the universe (cosmology).
So, what is science? And do these and other discipline's qualify? Why?
Battling Webster