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2 - Defining Science

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 September 2023

David B. Teplow
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles
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Summary

If one reads about science, writes about science, or teaches science, one should know about the whats, hows, whens, and whys of science. What is science? How is it done? When is science needed? Science seeks to understand and systematize the natural world. It does so experimentally, using test tubes, computers, and animals (including humans), among other things. Curiosity and necessity drive science. Since ancient times, people have wanted to understand and then manipulate their world. For example, science has provided the means to painlessly and noninvasively look into the human body through the development of X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and scintigraphy (radioisotopes). Electronics and materials science have enabled creation of cell phones. Chemistry has given us therapeutic drugs, Teflon, and Velcro. Physics and engineering have taken us to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. This broad scope of science makes it difficult, but not impossible, to define. This chapter provides a holistic view of science.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • Defining Science
  • David B. Teplow, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Book: The Philosophy and Practice of Science
  • Online publication: 17 September 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107360129.005
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  • Defining Science
  • David B. Teplow, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Book: The Philosophy and Practice of Science
  • Online publication: 17 September 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107360129.005
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Defining Science
  • David B. Teplow, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Book: The Philosophy and Practice of Science
  • Online publication: 17 September 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107360129.005
Available formats
×