The natural sciences have come a long way since they originated in Ancient Greece (or earlier- depending how you start counting), both in terms of knowledge production and methodology. It is worth remembering that knowledge from the natural sciences is not necessarily correct, simply because it is scientific. In this sense we should also approach "scientific research" on products sold by pharmaceuticals with caution. If a study (albeit indirectly) funded by a multinational oil company, for example, claims that climate change is not real, we have reason to doubt the quality of its knowledge. Research funded by entities that benefit from its findings will often eliminate inconvenient data and truths. The cosmetics industry may seduce you to buy their latest anti-wrinkle cream by fiddling with statistics and plastering "scientific sounding language" on the packaging of its products.
"Scientific proof" has almost become some sort of guarantee of the quality or veracity of knowledge. Nevertheless, all disciplines within the natural sciences will broadly have a shared underlying scope, methodology and purpose.Īt this point in time, we tend to place much trust in the natural sciences. In this sense, each discipline within the natural sciences will tweak its methodology somewhat to fit its particular purpose and scope. Each discipline within the natural sciences aims to produce knowledge about different aspects of the natural world. Within this method, evidence and justification play a very important role. The underlying methodology that binds all disciplines within the natural sciences together is so important that we may even use it to distinguish "real" or "good" science from "bad" science and even pseudo-science. The scientific method is a key feature of what makes the natural sciences so scientific. The natural sciences aim to acquire knowledge about the natural world.
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