FINAL EXAMINATION ESSAY

Final Examination Essay



Final Examination Essay

Introduction

This discussion will attempt to highlight the fundamentals of natural sciences. The discussion will begin by highlighting the definition of natural sciences and briefly differentiating between natural sciences and social sciences. The discussion will elaborate on the relevance of science as a way of knowing along with supporting ideas. Finally, the discussion will describe the relevance of the scientific method and how it works. In this regard, the discussion will seek to highlight the fundamental components of the scientific method.

Discussion

Natural Sciences and their Difference from the Social Sciences

Natural science is one of the three classifications of science (the other two: formal sciences and social sciences). Natural sciences, otherwise also known as hard sciences, rely on objectivity and fact driven analysis. Developments in natural science influence the development of everyday life. Some of the most famous and influential fields of natural science include astronomy, biology, chemistry and physics (Myers, 2004). The highlighting of these areas of natural science makes it clear that natural sciences make use of available data in order to derive conclusions and inferences. In essence, natural science is the science that attempts to acquire an understanding of the world through the usage of scientific methods and techniques (Gauch, 2003).

The differentiation between natural sciences and social sciences is clear in the fact that natural sciences seek to explore the concepts of nature; whereas social sciences seek to explore the science of human socialization. Natural sciences deal with naturally occurring elements such as the movement and behavior of stars, atoms, magnetic fields, and the like. In essence, natural sciences explore the world around human kind. In comparison, the social sciences seek to explore human kind (Myers, 2004). However, it merits mention that there are certain areas, which serve as a combination of natural sciences and social sciences. Areas such as these include either social-scientific components or natural-scientific components. A major area of difference between natural sciences and social sciences is in the methodology (Gauch, 2003). The research methodologies applied in natural sciences is usually empirical in nature. They deal with observable facts and reasoning. In comparison, methodologies in social sciences use a practical approach.

Science Valid as a Way of Knowing

Science is valid as a way of knowing because one of the properties which are necessary to a science is that the activities of its practitioners results in a substantial body of organized knowledge. One ...