Science

Science is any discipline that systematically—methodically—studies a distinct field of knowledge through observation and reason where one can infer further knowledge, to be subsumed into its specific scope of inquiry. Acquiring a body of knowledge that allows it to establish principles and laws within its domain. Over time, as specific disciplines accumulate a sufficient stock of information and develop specialized methods, they become distinct fields of study, splitting off from the broader category of philosophy, which initially encompasses all forms of knowledge-seeking endeavors.

[...] At the very beginning Philosophy was the subject which you were in if you were in anything; there was no other subject. Anybody who loved wisdom and wanted to acquire knowledge was by that fact a lover of wisdom he was a philosopher.

The ancient philosophers therefore all had views on things that we would not now regard as philosophy but as science such as physics, mathematics, biology, etc. But progressively, as each of these disciplines acquired a certain stock of information, on its own, it split off and set up shop on its own. Mathematics, was the first to do so, and subsequently many hundreds of years later physics and chemistry.^[1]

. . . . And, so on—to today.

Sciences develop specific methods for investigating their subject matter, allowing for the accumulation and verification of knowledge within their specialized domain. Once a discipline has developed a robust framework of theories and methods, it establishes itself as an independent field of study, separate from philosophy. Philosophy remains distinct from specialized sciences due to its broader scope and foundational nature. It deals with the most general abstractions and serves as a cognitive guide for human action. Philosophy's branches, such as metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics, provide overarching principles applicable to all areas of inquiry and life.

Each specialized science, while independent, requires these philosophical foundations to guide its development and application.

Further, all sciences, even the broadest fields, are centered around a fundamental question that defines its specific scope of inquiry. This core question guides the development of the discipline, focusing its efforts on a particular aspect of reality. Physics seeks to answer: "What are the fundamental laws governing entities?" Biology seeks to answer: "What are the principles of life and living organisms?" Chemistry seeks to answer: "What are the properties and actions of substances and their relationships?" etc. When a discipline successfully addresses its fundamental question, it implies a deeper understanding of reality within that domain, leading to the formulation of general principles and laws. Answering these core questions not only advances knowledge within the specific field but often raises new questions and interdisciplinary connections. Ultimately, each field's progress in advancing the context of ones knowledge depends on its ability, of its lovers, to refine and reduce its fundamental question—this is the discipline of a scientist.