He Object of study of the Science Are the phenomena that occur in nature and society , Whose knowledge allows us to explain events and predict them, in a rational way.
To explain them in a rational way means that we do not let any preconceived ideas, political or religious, intervene in the form of study of science.
The object of study of science raises questions once it is observed. Science tries to solve the questions through an experimental design.
This defines the object of study of science and sets limits to the investigation That is going to be realized.
Classification of sciences based on the object of study
We can organize the sciences based on their object of study.
Formal or eidetic science
Formal science is one that studies ideas. This means that it is not in charge of studying objects or realities, but what surrounds them. Through the Deductive method There are models that can be applied to reality.
He studies ideal objects that are created by man, and unlike the natural sciences, which check their results empirically; The formal sciences argue their validity with theories based on propositions, definitions, axioms and rules of inference. Within the formal sciences are logic and mathematics.
Logic
The object of study of logic is inference. We can define inference as the evaluation performed by the mind between propositions. In worldly words, we can define how to draw one consequence from another.
Logic investigates why some inferences are valid and others are not. An inference is acceptable when it has a logical structure. There are two kinds of inferences, deductions and inductions.
Induction example
All cows are mammals and have lungs, all humans are mammals and have lungs, therefore, probably all mammals have lungs
Example of deduction
All my classmates are students, they are students, therefore, I am a student.
As we see in the example, the object of study of logic are ideas, it does not focus on a specific fact that happens, but on the ideas that surround it.
Mathematics
For mathematics, the object of study are the properties and relations between abstract entities such as numbers, geometric figures or symbols. It is a set of formal languages that are used to pose problems in an unambiguous way.
For example, we can say that X is greater than Y, and that Y is greater than Z. To put it in a simpler way, we can use mathematical language, and it results in a statement X> Y> Z.
Mathematics simplifies the language used in abstract concepts to explain problems. The natural sciences use mathematics to explain and demonstrate their theories and provide them with coherence.
Factual science
These sciences are those that have as object of study the facts. These are studied through facts based on observation and experimentation. Within the Factual sciences We can make another distinction based on the object of study, between natural sciences and social Sciences .
Natural Sciences
The natural sciences are those that study the functioning of the universe and the world around us. As object of study they have the nature and use an experimental method to demonstrate their hypotheses.
To limit its object of study, the natural sciences study the physical aspects of reality, trying to avoid human actions within their hypotheses.
Although they have an object of study so different from the eidetic sciences, the natural sciences rely on these to develop their model of study, especially in logic and mathematics. All sciences rely on a logical reasoning for explanations of their hypotheses.
Within the natural sciences, we can distinguish two broad categories, the physical sciences and the biological sciences.
Within the physical sciences we first find astronomy. In astronomy the object of study is the celestial bodies. We continue with the physical , Whose object of study are space, time, matter and energy.
In addition to geology, which studies Earth and chemistry , Which studies the composition of matter and its reactions.
On the other hand, in the biological sciences the object of study are living beings. The largest branch of study is the biology , Which in turn is divided into small sections defining its object of study. Botany and zoology are two of its Branches , Where the object of study are plants and animals respectively.
Biology, in human study, focuses only on the physical characteristics of the body, since the interaction in society is the object of study of the social sciences.
Social Sciences
The social sciences are characterized because their object of study are the human beings within the society and its interactions. It is important to distinguish between social sciences and social studies.
Although the object of research is the same, within the social sciences a mixed inductive method must be followed, which is one that is used for the study of the natural sciences. However, social studies are based on reasoning and observation, and despite logical reasoning, do not follow the model of science.
Within the social sciences we find several groups depending on the object of study of the same. There are the social sciences whose object of study is the interaction of society, such as political science, anthropology, economy and the sociology .
On the other hand, we also have the sciences that focus on the object of study of the human cognitive system. Within these we find linguistics, semiology and psychology.
Finally, there are the social sciences that base their object of study on the evolution of societies, such as archeology, demography, history, human ecology and geography.
References
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