Natural science
Empirical study of natural phenomena through observation and experimentation.
Natural science, also called empirical science, is the study of natural phenomena through observation and experimentation, aiming to describe, understand, and predict them. Its findings are validated through mechanisms like peer review and reproducibility. The field splits into two main branches: life science (biology) and physical science. Physical science further divides into physics, astronomy, Earth science, and chemistry, and each can be broken into more specialized fields. As empirical sciences, natural sciences rely on formal tools like mathematics and logic to turn observations about nature into measurable statements, often expressed as "laws of nature."
Modern natural science grew out of earlier classical approaches to natural philosophy. Thinkers like Galileo, Kepler, Descartes, Bacon, and Newton debated whether a mathematical or experimental method was better for investigating nature. Even so, philosophical perspectives, conjectures, and assumptions—though often overlooked—remain essential. Systematic data collection, including discovery science, replaced natural history, which emerged in the 16th century by describing and classifying plants, animals, minerals, and so on. Today, "natural history" usually refers to observational descriptions aimed at general audiences.
**Criteria**
Philosophers of science have proposed various criteria to distinguish science from non-science, including Karl Popper's controversial falsifiability criterion. In today's global scientific community, the most respected criteria include validity, accuracy, and quality control measures like peer review and reproducibility of findings. In natural science, impossibility claims are accepted as overwhelmingly probable rather than absolutely proven. This strong acceptance comes from extensive evidence that something does not occur, combined with a highly successful predictive theory whose assumptions logically lead to the conclusion that something is impossible. While such an impossibility assertion can never be proven, a single counterexample could refute it, forcing a re-examination of the theory's underlying assumptions.
**Branches of Natural Science**
**Astronomy**
Astronomy is the natural science of celestial objects and phenomena beyond Earth's atmosphere, including planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and comets. It is one of the oldest sciences, with early ci
- field
- Natural science
- branches
- Life science and physical science
- subfields
- Physics, astronomy, Earth science, chemistry, biology
- key_criteria
- Peer review, reproducibility, falsifiability
- historical_roots
- Natural philosophy, natural history
Lore & Background
Natural science succeeded more classical approaches to natural philosophy. Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, René Descartes, Francis Bacon, and Isaac Newton debated the benefits of a more mathematical as against a more experimental method in investigating nature. Philosophical perspectives, conjectures, and presuppositions remain necessary in natural science. Systematic data collection, including discovery science, succeeded natural history, which emerged in the 16th century by describing and classifying plants, animals, minerals, and so on.
Reader's Guide
Natural science is significant as the foundation for understanding the natural world through empirical evidence. Its mechanisms, such as peer review and reproducibility, help ensure the validity of scientific advances. The division into life science and physical science allows specialized study of living organisms and non-living phenomena. Philosophers of science have suggested criteria like Karl Popper's falsifiability to differentiate scientific endeavors from non-scientific ones. In natural science, impossibility assertions are accepted as overwhelmingly probable rather than proven unchallengeable, based on extensive evidence and successful underlying theories. A single counterexample could refute such an assertion, requiring re-examination of the theory's assumptions. The branches—astronomy, biology, chemistry, Earth science, and atmospheric sciences—each have their own historical development and methodologies, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of nature.
Did You Know?
- Natural science can be divided into two main branches: life science and physical science.
- Mechanisms such as peer review and reproducibility are used to ensure the validity of scientific advances.
- Karl Popper's falsifiability criterion is a controversial criterion to differentiate scientific from non-scientific endeavors.
- An impossibility assertion in natural science could be refuted by the observation of a single counterexample.
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