Starting with Itself, some Definitions, just from the Top of Google's List, to make sure:
First) sci·ence [sahy-uhns] noun
1. a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws: the mathematical sciences.
2. systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.
3. any of the branches of natural or physical science.
4. systematized knowledge in general.
5. knowledge, as of facts or principles; knowledge gained by systematic study.
...
(dictionary.reference.com)
1. a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws: the mathematical sciences.
2. systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.
3. any of the branches of natural or physical science.
4. systematized knowledge in general.
5. knowledge, as of facts or principles; knowledge gained by systematic study.
...
(dictionary.reference.com)
Second) sci·ence (sns)n.
1.a. The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.
b. Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena.
c. Such activities applied to an object of inquiry or study.
(The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language)
Third) science [ˈsaɪəns] n
1. the systematic study of the nature and behaviour of the material and physical universe, based on observation, experiment, and measurement, and the formulation of laws to describe these facts in general terms
2. the knowledge so obtained or the practice of obtaining it
3. any particular branch of this knowledge the pure and applied sciences
4. any body of knowledge organized in a systematic manner
...
(Collins English Dictionary)
Fourth) science (sns)
The investigation of natural phenomena through observation, theoretical explanation, and experimentation, or the knowledge produced by such investigation. Science makes use of the scientific method, which includes the careful observation of natural phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis, the conducting of one or more experiments to test the hypothesis, and the drawing of a conclusion that confirms or modifies the hypothesis.
(The American Heritage® Science Dictionary)
(thefreedictionary.com)
1.a. The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.
b. Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena.
c. Such activities applied to an object of inquiry or study.
(The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language)
Third) science [ˈsaɪəns] n
1. the systematic study of the nature and behaviour of the material and physical universe, based on observation, experiment, and measurement, and the formulation of laws to describe these facts in general terms
2. the knowledge so obtained or the practice of obtaining it
3. any particular branch of this knowledge the pure and applied sciences
4. any body of knowledge organized in a systematic manner
...
(Collins English Dictionary)
Fourth) science (sns)
The investigation of natural phenomena through observation, theoretical explanation, and experimentation, or the knowledge produced by such investigation. Science makes use of the scientific method, which includes the careful observation of natural phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis, the conducting of one or more experiments to test the hypothesis, and the drawing of a conclusion that confirms or modifies the hypothesis.
(The American Heritage® Science Dictionary)
(thefreedictionary.com)
Sorry to interrupt, but.... whilst Googeling...
The OFFICIAL U.K. definition of science is here!
havealook..
Sorry, got sortof sidetracked...
Secondly, (the first definition puts) a lot of importance on the systematic aspect of science.
The definitions also point out that specialization/indexing also is important part of to Science. (this is the reason for me to "steal" this index for the basic structure of my site...) The third def. more of the same, but also repeats the word Law.
I think that to use the word Law in the definition connects in our minds "science" with some form of "authority", either "showing the operation of general laws" or because scientist are bizzy with " the formulation of laws to describe these facts". I feel that this is probably the way that most people look at science and scientists; some form of authority... Although the truth is revealed (if you click expand in the link above) by scrolling all the way down:
" 15. (in philosophy, science, etc.)
- a. a statement of a relation or sequence of phenomena invariable under the same conditions.
- b. a mathematical rule. "
( Although the consept of "Natural Law" comes from social philosophy,
the definition seems to fit if you consider the above:
" Natural law or the law of nature (lex naturalis) is a theory that posits the existence of a law whose content is set by nature and that therefore has validity everywhere . " (International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences)
This sound like the kind of Laws the Scientists are Trying to Formulate!
But then, the Concept that Natural Laws exists seems to be only "theory".... )
I't seems to be this is what it's really about.
Are you still here?
Back to itstructure, to Map All Crepp,
" The branches of science are commonly divided into two major groups:
- Natural Sciences, which study natural phenomena.
- Social Sciences, which study human behavior and societies. "
I thought this was going to be relatively straight forward but....
These "Two Mayor Groups" seems to be;
"Natural Science" seems to be broken up in two parts again;
"Social Science" include: anthropology, archaeology, business administration, communication,criminology, economics, education, government, linguistics, international relations, political science, sociology and, in some contexts,geography, history, law, and psychology
- Physical science – encompasses the branches that study non-living systems; Physics, Chemistry and Earth science.
- Life science- comprises the branches that involve the study of living organisms; so basically Biology (Zoology, Human biology and Botany)
"Social Science" include: anthropology, archaeology, business administration, communication,criminology, economics, education, government, linguistics, international relations, political science, sociology and, in some contexts,geography, history, law, and psychology
and... (TwoAndAHalf...)
"Formal science" the branches of knowledge that are concerned with formal systems, such as logic, mathematics, theoretical computer science, information theory, systems theory, decision theory, statistics, and some aspects of linguistics.