Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge through testable explanations and predictions about the universe. It represents a broad approach to understanding the world, from the smallest particles to the largest societal structures. This vast inquiry is categorized into distinct branches, allowing for focused study.
Natural Sciences
The natural sciences describe, predict, and understand natural phenomena through empirical evidence, observation, and experimentation. This branch investigates the physical world and its processes, encompassing disciplines that explore everything from fundamental forces to living organisms.
Physics is the study of matter, its motion through space and time, and related concepts like energy and force. This field aims to uncover the underlying laws governing how the universe operates at various scales. Chemistry is the study of matter, including its properties, composition, and the changes it undergoes. It examines the atomic and molecular interactions that form the basis of all substances.
Biology is the study of life and living organisms, exploring their structure, function, growth, evolution, and interactions. This broad field ranges from molecular biology, which examines life at the cellular level, to ecology. Astronomy is the study of celestial objects and phenomena beyond Earth’s atmosphere, such as planets, stars, and galaxies. Astronomers investigate their origin, evolution, and physical properties. Geology is the study of Earth’s structure, composition, processes, and history. It explores rocks, minerals, and the forces that shape landscapes over geological timescales.
Social Sciences
The social sciences investigate human society and social relationships, seeking to understand human behavior, societal structures, and cultural practices. This branch uses systematic methods to explore the complexities of human interaction and development. These disciplines analyze how individuals and groups function within various contexts.
Sociology is the study of human society, social behavior, and the organization of groups and institutions. It examines social patterns, relationships, and cultural phenomena. Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior, including mental processes, emotions, and individual development. This field explores why people think, feel, and act the way they do. Economics analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services within societies. It investigates how individuals, businesses, and governments make decisions about scarce resources.
Political science is the study of governments, public policies, political processes, and political behavior. It examines systems of governance and power at local, national, and international levels. Anthropology is the study of humanity, encompassing human behavior, biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics across time. Anthropologists seek to understand the diversity of human experience.
Formal Sciences
Formal sciences are concerned with abstract systems and the rules that govern them, rather than empirical observation of the real world. These disciplines rely on axioms, definitions, and logical deduction to build knowledge. They provide foundational tools and frameworks used across all other scientific branches.
Mathematics is the study of quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves abstract concepts and logical reasoning to explore patterns and relationships. Logic is the study of correct reasoning and valid inference. It examines how conclusions can be drawn from premises. Theoretical computer science is the study of the abstract and mathematical foundations of computation. This field investigates algorithms, computational complexity, and the limits of what computers can solve.