Could it be something to do with the “scientific method”?
Scientific theories have to be refutable.
Not sure that this is true of the social sciences. Hard to run “experiments”
of the sort that you can do in the “natural sciences”.
The ethics committees wouldn't allow it.
You can argue yourself into an early grave in the social sciences,
but running definitive experiments is another matter.
Not that this says anything about the value of either approach.
Now, if anyone starts talking about economics as a science,
dismal or otherwise, we really have hit the buffers.
MK
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Waldock
Sent: 08 October 2010 16:26
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Some possible definitions?
But humanities (art, classics, history,
philosophy etc...) don't include the social sciences, so calling them
humanities seems to be false.
I don't accept that social sciences aren't sciences; I'm
happy to accept they aren't natural sciences (as human intervention is
involved). What is it that characterises science which means that social
sciences shouldn't be excluded?
D
On 8 October 2010 14:29, Newson, Lesley <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
An end to the social "sciences". It makes
sense but perhaps "humanities" would be better than "social
studies". This would mean that people who study social insects, for
example, could still be considered scientists. But would the
"humanities" have to cover studies of human physiology?
It would be great if people who communicated science recognized that many of
the conclusions drawn from the studies of humans cannot be considered
scientifically valid and are not worth communicating - while others are.
Lesley
________________________________________
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Francisco Diego [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 08 October 2010 08:46
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Some possible definitions?
Dear all,
Perhaps these possible definitions could help?
science - the best method we have developed to explore, discover and
understand thatever is there or happens without human intervention, i.e.
the natural world, the universe. Embraces physics, biology, chemistry,
and their combinations geology, astrobiology, cosmology, etc. Ideally
curiosity driven.
technology - applied science, the manipulation, application of those
discoveries for our benefit (or the benefit of a few in many cases!).
Embraces engineering (mechanical electric, civil, etc), medicine, and even
the impact of all these on our nearby, vital environment. Sadly, often
driven by economic interests.
Yes, we also need technology to do science and science feeds technology,
but they are by principle, different.
social sciences should be called social studies instead.
Mathematics is a tool applied to virtually all disciplines, science,
technology, social studies, arts...
This is relevant for many aspects of public engagement (big confusion
between science and technology), but mainly for the way all this is
funded. The more letters you put in an acronym, the more diluted are the
resources for each of them.
Scientist in the USA have fighted to keep the NSF without T's or E's. We
did have an SRC ages ago.
best regards
francisco
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