What is Science

[Ian]

I would also like to say that I think that figuring thinks out using deduction and reason is a Science.

[clusterm2]

Then when one has figured stuff out, then one will know the difference between a thread and a post

[Dancing David]

Originally posted by Ian
I would also like to say that I think that figuring thinks out using deduction and reason is a Science.

Science is often counter intuitive to reason.

I would say that science has a number of components.
1. Observational/descriptive.
2. Theorhetical.
3. Empirical.

[Bikewer]

Above all, science is a method of examining the observable universe.

[epepke]

I saw it described in an old Skeptical Inquirer something like this:

1) Reason little used, evidence little used: Mysticism
2) Reason much used, evidence little used: Logic, mathematics, much of philosophy
3) Reason little used, evidence much used: Empiricism, intelligence-gathering
4) Reason much used, evidence much used: Science

[jmercer]

Originally posted by epepke
I saw it described in an old Skeptical Inquirer something like this:

1) Reason little used, evidence little used: Mysticism
2) Reason much used, evidence little used: Logic, mathematics, much of philosophy
3) Reason little used, evidence much used: Empiricism, intelligence-gathering
4) Reason much used, evidence much used: Science

That's a keeper - thanks for posting it. :)

[Jorghnassen]

Originally posted by epepke
I saw it described in an old Skeptical Inquirer something like this:

1) Reason little used, evidence little used: Mysticism
2) Reason much used, evidence little used: Logic, mathematics, much of philosophy
3) Reason little used, evidence much used: Empiricism, intelligence-gathering
4) Reason much used, evidence much used: Science

Are you saying mathematics aren't science? Anyway, this simplistic description is misguided if you ask me...

[jmercer]

Mathematics may be a science, but it's more concerned with logic and proofs than with evidence - at least as far as I know. Setting aside the Science/Not Science labels, I'd say the list is a reasonable description of each's general approach, wouldn't you?