Science

The word science (Middle High German wizzen[t]schaft = knowledge, foreknowledge, permission; Latin scientia) denotes the totality of human knowledge, knowledge and experience of a time period, which is systematically expanded, collected, stored, taught and handed down.

Science is a system of knowledge about the essential properties, causal relationships and regularities of nature, technology, society and thought, which is fixed in the form of concepts, categories, measures, laws, theories and hypotheses.

Science is also the totality of knowledge and experience that relate to an object area and stand in a context of justification. The knowledge of a limited subject area characterizes the individual science, which is divided into a theoretical and an applied area and with progressive differentiation can give rise to a number of sub-disciplines.

Science also refers to the methodical process of intersubjectively comprehensible research and cognition in a certain field, which, according to conventional understanding, produces well-founded, orderly and secure knowledge. In terms of methodology, science accordingly characterizes knowledge that is secured and placed in a rational context of justification, that is communicable and verifiable, and that follows certain scientific criteria. Science thus denotes a coherent system of statements, theories and procedures that has been subjected to strict tests of validity and is associated with the claim of objective, supra-personal validity.

In addition, science also refers to the totality of scientific institutions and the scientists working there. In their work, they are bound by specific values and practices and are expected to comply with scientific ethical principles. They are in a relationship of mutual influence with politics and society.

The term was used in jurisprudence, e.g. by the Federal Constitutional Court. It defined science as "everything which, according to content and form, is to be regarded as a serious attempt to ascertain the truth (science)".

Word Origin

The German word Wissenschaft is a compound noun composed of the word Wissen (from Indo-Germanic *u̯e(i)d or *weid- for erblicken, sehen) and the Old High German noun scaf(t) or skaf(t) (constitution, order, plan, rank). Like many other German compounds ending in "-schaft", it arose in the course of Old High German noun formation in the Middle Ages. In the process, the formerly independent noun scaf(t) or skaf(t) became a suffix. In this sense it denotes the nature or order of knowledge.

History

The history and development of science is studied in the academic discipline of the history of science. The development of human knowledge of the nature of the earth and the cosmos and the historical emergence of the natural sciences is part of this, for example, the history of astronomy and the history of physics. In addition, there are connections to the applied sciences of mathematics, medicine and technology. Already Thales demanded that science be provable, verifiable or repeatable in its results and free of purpose. The philosophical preoccupation with scientific knowledge and methods goes back historically to Aristotle in antiquity, today called philosophy of science.