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| A '''formal science''' is the academic study that is predominantly concerned with abstract [[formal systems]], for instance, [[logic]], [[mathematics]], and the theoretical branches of [[theoretical computer science|computer science]], [[information theory]], and [[statistics]]. | | A '''formal science''' is the academic study that is predominantly concerned with abstract [[formal systems]], for instance, [[logic]], [[mathematics]], and the theoretical branches of [[theoretical computer science|computer science]], [[information theory]], and [[statistics]]. |
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− | ==Relation with science==
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| It is arguable whether formal science is, besides [[natural science]] and [[social science]], the third branch of science and some of the disciplines of formal science like [[mathematics]] and [[statistics]] are often even referred as natural science. For instance, [[Carl Friedrich Gauss]] referred to mathematics as "the Queen of the Sciences".<ref>Waltershausen</ref> In some notable universities, e.g. [[Imperial College London]] and [[Tokyo University]], their [[Academic department|department]] of mathematics/statistics run under the [[faculty (university)|faculty]] of natural science/science. | | It is arguable whether formal science is, besides [[natural science]] and [[social science]], the third branch of science and some of the disciplines of formal science like [[mathematics]] and [[statistics]] are often even referred as natural science. For instance, [[Carl Friedrich Gauss]] referred to mathematics as "the Queen of the Sciences".<ref>Waltershausen</ref> In some notable universities, e.g. [[Imperial College London]] and [[Tokyo University]], their [[Academic department|department]] of mathematics/statistics run under the [[faculty (university)|faculty]] of natural science/science. |
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| However, many scholars oppose including formal science as a branch of science. They admit that formal science is a very powerful tool to natural and social science, but it does not mean formal science is science. Most importantly, they define science as the discipline using [[scientific method]] which bases on observation and [[empirical]] study. As [[knowledge]] in formal science is [[a priori and a posteriori (philosophy)|a priori]] and always constructed by rules of deduction from [[axioms]] and [[definition]] without any empirical study, they refuse to classify formal science as a branch of science. | | However, many scholars oppose including formal science as a branch of science. They admit that formal science is a very powerful tool to natural and social science, but it does not mean formal science is science. Most importantly, they define science as the discipline using [[scientific method]] which bases on observation and [[empirical]] study. As [[knowledge]] in formal science is [[a priori and a posteriori (philosophy)|a priori]] and always constructed by rules of deduction from [[axioms]] and [[definition]] without any empirical study, they refuse to classify formal science as a branch of science. |
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− | ==History==
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| + | ''History'' |
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| The study of formal science began much earlier than natural science and the invention of [[scientific method]], with the most ancient mathematical texts available dates back to 1500BC-500 BC ([[ancient India]]), 1300-1200 BC ([[ancient Egypt]]), and 1800 BC ([[Mesopotamia]]). From then on different cultures such as the [[History of India|Indian]], [[Greeks|Greek]], [[Islamic]] made major contributions to mathematics. | | The study of formal science began much earlier than natural science and the invention of [[scientific method]], with the most ancient mathematical texts available dates back to 1500BC-500 BC ([[ancient India]]), 1300-1200 BC ([[ancient Egypt]]), and 1800 BC ([[Mesopotamia]]). From then on different cultures such as the [[History of India|Indian]], [[Greeks|Greek]], [[Islamic]] made major contributions to mathematics. |
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| Study on computer science and information theory did not begin until middle 20th century. | | Study on computer science and information theory did not begin until middle 20th century. |
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− | ==See also==
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| + | See also |
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| * [[Abstraction]] | | * [[Abstraction]] |