EPISTEMOLOGY OF NATURAL SCIENCES

From here, epistemology can be defined as the branch of philosophy that deals with
the problems surrounding knowledge and, in the case of Natural Sciences, are
will define as the branch of philosophy that seeks to elucidate and systematize problems
scientific-philosophical.

The phenomenon of life

This means avoiding falling into the dominant temptation of starting from the impersonal universe and
dead from physics only to be forced, almost against the grain, to rescue from the living,
whose specificity is the individual creator of meaning

The main conceptions aimed at explaining the origin of life can be divided into
two groups, those based on chemistry and physics evolving into more advanced systems
complexes and creationism and panspermia.

Within the first group is the thesis that the origin of life is the product of chance, but
understandable within the laws of physics and chemistry, but which is not predictable nor
demonstrable since it is the product of many random events and therefore nature
Life is essentially unique. The origin of life is an event in a world governed
by chance and therefore it is not provable. This thesis was elegantly discussed by
Jacques Monod 11 in his book 'Chance and Necessity'.

The second conception is that the origin of life is a deterministic event, the result
from the action of the laws of nature in a physicochemical system of a certain type. This
the system evolves over time, it is governed by physical and chemical principles and
eventually leads to the emergence of living forms. The details do not need to be
totally deterministic in every aspect, but the behavior in general is predictable.

2. Natural sciences

The natural sciences are made up of a set of contents that are

characterized by the empirical study of the natural world, through the construction of
concepts and the search for relationships between them, in a way that allows generating models
that help to understand it better, predict the behavior of natural phenomena and
act upon them, if necessary, to improve living conditions. The construction
this explanatory and predictive models are carried out through procedures
of searching, direct observation or experimentation, and of the formulation of hypotheses that
they must then be contrasted. Therefore, in this constructive activity of the
science, play a primary role both in contrast procedures with the
reality, like the very conceptual frames of reference that guide research and that
they are contrasted in it, without forgetting the attitudes and values that, as in any activity
human and social conditions their development.

Science not only allows us to know nature and understand its transformations,
but also our own physicochemical condition as living beings, members of the species
humanity and the planet. Furthermore, scientific thinking collaborates decisively to
that students are able to face the problems of everyday life and
to develop in a society like the Basque, highly conditioned by developments
scientific and technological, as well as to develop responsible attitudes towards aspects
linked to life and health, resources and the environment.

Natural sciences are those that are responsible for studying nature, with the
the purpose of deciphering theories and laws that explain the functioning of some element
natural of the world, or rather, natural phenomena.
In general, the concept is coined in opposition to that of the social sciences, which is the group
of sciences that seeks to establish laws about the relationships that appear between people
that live in the world. This opposition, however, leaves out some disciplines like
logic and mathematics, which do not entirely correspond to either of the two
categories: it is about the known formal sciences, which use abstract entities
to explain phenomena.

2.1. Examples of Factual Sciences

Natural sciences, perhaps more than any other type of science, rely on the method.
scientific to achieve their goals. It is the best example of this, as the majority
The laws formulated in this area are falsifiable and therefore accepts the possibility
to be verified through experiments, and eventually corrected.

This is precisely what led to an evolution of the sciences.

natural knowledge that was progressively surpassed by one another.

2.2. Division of Natural Sciences

Five major natural sciences can be mentioned: Biology, Physics,

Chemistry, Geology, and Astronomy. Biology studies the origin, evolution and
the properties of living beings. Therefore, it is responsible for the phenomena
linked to living organisms. Medicine, Zoology, and Botany form
part of biology.
Biology: The science that studies living beings, from their origin to their properties.
and its evolution over time. It also contains within it the categories of
biochemistry, histology, physiology, genetics, zoology, and botany
microbiology
Chemistry: A basic science whose subject of study is matter, and it deals with explaining the
composition, the structure and the properties of it. The categories it contains are
biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, petrochemistry, and astrochemistry, among others.
Physics: The science that is responsible for explaining the relationships between matter and the environment.
particularly with space, time, and energy. Movement is one of the topics
centers of interest for physics, and that is why it is necessary to formulate high-level theories.
mathematical content. However, this is not one of the disciplines contained by the
Physics, as seen earlier. The internal disciplines of physics are
thermodynamics, mechanics, electromagnetism, and quantum physics.
Geology: Science that deals with the study of the Earth and its structure. The processes
that occur in the internal rocks of our planet, the movements of the crust
land and the structure of continents and oceans is part of its area, which contains
also to geophysics, geochemistry, geobotany, and paleontology.
Astronomy: The science of celestial bodies, including their movements as well.
to the phenomena linked to them. The planets, the stars, the satellites and everything that
find beyond the land border is its scope of application.

2.3. Description of Natural Sciences

Biology
A fragment of DNA, the chemical sequence that contains genetic instructions for the
fundamental biological development and its functioning in living beings. This field
it comprises a set of disciplines that examine phenomena related to organisms
living. The study scale ranges from the biophysical subcomponents to the systems
complex. Biology deals with the characteristics, classification, and behavior of the
organisms, as well as the formation and interactions of species with each other and with
the natural environment. The biological fields of Botany, Zoology, and Medicine emerged
since the earliest moments of civilization, while Microbiology was
introduced in the 17th century with the discovery of the microscope. However, it was not
until the 19th century when Biology was unified, once scientists discovered
coincidences in all living beings and decided to study them as a whole.

Some key developments in the science of Biology were Genetics, the Theory of
Charles Darwin's evolution with the so-called natural selection, the Microbial Theory of
Infectious diseases and the application of Physics and Chemistry techniques at the cellular level.
molecular (Biophysics and Biochemistry, respectively). Modern Biology is divided into sub-
disciplines, according to the types of organisms and the scale at which they are studied. Biology
Molecular is the study of the fundamental Chemistry of life, while Biology
Cell biology aims to examine the cell, that is, the basic building unit of
all life. At a higher level, there is Physiology, which studies the internal structure
of the organism. Ecology is responsible for the study of the relationships between beings
living beings and the environment.

Chemistry

Chemistry is an experimental science that is closely linked to the rest.

of natural sciences. It is mainly responsible for the study of substances.

Chemical experimentation originated in Alchemy, a belief system that

combined esotericism and physical experimentation. The science of Chemistry began to
develop in the late 18th century, with the work of notable scientists such as Robert
Boyle, the discoverer of gases, or Antoine Lavoisier, who discovered the Law of
Conservation of Mass. The systematization became evident with the creation of the Table
Periodic Table of Elements and the introduction of Atomic Theory, when the
Researchers developed a fundamental understanding of the states of matter.
the ions, chemical bonds, and chemical reactions. From the first half of
19th century, the development of Chemistry is accompanied by the emergence and expansion of
a chemical industry of great relevance in the current economy and quality of life

Physics

Meissner effect, an example of superconductivity. Physics includes the study of

fundamental components of the Universe, the forces and interactions they exert on each other
and the results produced by such interactions. In general, Physics is considered
as a fundamental science, closely linked with Mathematics and Logic in
the formulation and quantification of the principles. The study of the principles of the Universe
it has a long history and great deductive work, based on observation and the
experimentation. The formulation of theories about the laws that govern the Universe
it has been a central objective of Physics since ancient times, with the philosophy of its use
systematic experiments of quantitative observation and testing as a source of
verification.

The key to the historical development of Physics includes milestones such as the Theory of Gravitation.
Universal and Newton's classical mechanics, understanding the nature of the
electricity and its relation to Magnetism, the General Theory of Relativity and the Theory
Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, the development of Thermodynamics, and the model of the
quantum mechanics, at the levels of atomic and subatomic Physics. The field of Physics
it is extraordinarily broad, and can include studies as diverse as Mechanics
Quantum, Theoretical Physics or Optics. Modern Physics is oriented towards specialization.
growing, where researchers tend to focus on specific areas rather than being
universalists, like Albert Einstein or Lev Landau, who worked in a
multiplicity of areas.
 Geology

Intrusion of igneous rocks. Geology is a term that encompasses the sciences

related to the planet Earth, which include Geophysics, Hydrology, Meteorology,
Physical Geography, Oceanography, and Edaphology. Although Mining and Stones
precious things have been the subject of human interest throughout the history of civilization, their
scientific development within the science of Geology did not occur until the 18th century. The
study of the Earth, especially Paleontology, flourished in the 19th century, and the growth
from other disciplines, such as Geophysics, in the 20th century, with the Plate Theory
Tectonics, in the 1960s, had an impact on the Earth sciences similar to
the Theory of Evolution in Biology. Geology is currently,
closely linked to climate research and the mining and oil industries.

Astronomy

Space missions have been used to distant locations in the image within.
of the Solar System, such as this view from Apollo 11. View of the Daedalus Crater in
the dark side of the Moon. This discipline is the science of objects and phenomena
astronomical phenomena originating outside the Earth's atmosphere. Its field is related to the
Physics, with Chemistry, with the movement and with the evolution of celestial objects, thus
as well as with the formation and development of the Universe. Astronomy includes the
examination, study, and modeling of stars, planets, comets, galaxies and
The cosmos.

Most of the information used by astronomers is collected through observation.

remote, although it has been managed to be reproduced, in some cases, in the laboratory, the execution
of celestial phenomena, such as, for example, the Molecular Chemistry of the interstellar Medium.
While the origins of the study of celestial elements and phenomena may be
traced back to antiquity, the scientific methodology of this field began to
to develop in the mid-seventeenth century. A key factor was the introduction
from the Telescope by Galileo Galilei, which allowed for the examination of the night sky more
in detail. The mathematical treatment of Astronomy began with the development of
celestial mechanics and the laws of gravitation by Isaac Newton, although it had already been
launched by the previous work of astronomers such as Johannes Kepler. Towards
In the 19th century, Astronomy had developed as a formal science, with the
introduction of instruments such as the Spectroscope and Photography, which allowed
the continuous improvement of telescopes and the creation of professional observatories.

Geology

Intrusion of igneous rocks. Geology is a term that encompasses the sciences

related to the planet Earth, which include Geophysics, Hydrology, Meteorology,
Physical Geography, Oceanography, and Soil Science. Although Mining and Stones
precious things have been the subject of human interest throughout the history of civilization, their
scientific development within the science of Geology did not occur until the 18th century. The
The study of the Earth, especially Paleontology, flourished in the 19th century, and the growth
from other disciplines, such as Geophysics, in the 20th Century, with the Theory of Plates
Tectonics, in the 1960s, had an impact on Earth sciences similar to
the Theory of Evolution on Biology. Geology is currently,
closely linked to climate research and the mining and oil industries.

2.4. Crossed Sciences

The differences between the disciplines of Natural Sciences are not always marked, and
these "crossed sciences" share a large number of fields. Physics plays a role
significant in other Natural Sciences, giving rise, for example, to Astrophysics,
Geophysics, Physical Chemistry, and Biophysics. Likewise, Chemistry is represented by
various fields, such as Biochemistry, Geochemistry, and Astrochemistry. A particular example
the scientific discipline that encompasses multiple Natural Sciences is the science of the Environment
environment. This subject studies the interactions of the physical, chemical, and
biological environment, with particular attention to the effects of human activity and its
impact on Biodiversity and Sustainability. This science also affects experts
from other fields.

A discipline comparable to the previous one is Oceanography, which is related to a

broad range of scientific disciplines. Oceanography is further subdivided into other
cross-disciplinary subjects, such as Marine Biology. Since the marine ecosystem is very large
and diverse, Marine Biology also branches into many subdivisions, including
specializations in particular species. There is also a group of fields with
cross-disciplinary fields in which, due to the nature of the problems they encompass, there are
strong currents contrary to specialization. On the other hand, in some fields of
integrated applications, specialists, in more than one field, play a key role in the
dialogue between them. Such integral fields, for example, may include Nanoscience,
Astrobiology and complex information systems.

2.5. Materialism of the natural sciences

The widespread diffusion of this type of materialism among naturalists is a testimony of

that the recognition of the materiality of the world comes from the knowledge of
nature itself. However, if such materialism is not systematized into a theory
harmonious philosophical, if it does not exceed the framework of unilateral metaphysical materialism and
mechanistic, degenerates into a vulgar empiricism, into positivism. The limitation of
materialism of the natural sciences is highlighted in the most complete way in the
a period in which a radical change occurs in scientific theories, and that materialism
it is insufficient to explain the new knowledge results that contradict
the previously established ideas. This explains why difficulties arise quite often
which presents the interpretation of new facts leads naturalists to idealism,
to renounce spontaneous materialist ideas. Only starting from materialism
dialectical, it is possible to philosophically generalize, accurately, the conclusions to
that particular sciences are coming.

2.6. Natural sciences in everyday life

Here are some examples of the value of natural sciences in everyday life.

Knowledge about plants is essential for awareness about taking care of them.
known the value they have for human beings.
2. The expansion of the chemical industry is of great relevance to the economy and quality of
current life.
3. The entire electrical structure of a city is associated with the chemical notion of the
electricity.
4. The fuel, as we know it, is not oil in its natural state but
that undergoes a transformation that is part of chemistry.
5. Explanations of climatic phenomena correspond to meteorology, and
The perceptions of people regarding those phenomena pertain to thermodynamics.
6. Any fall of an object to the ground is the responsibility, first and foremost, of the Law of
the gravity that is not the same on all planets. The Law is in the realm of physics,
but the contribution about gravity on each planet includes astronomy.
7. The possibility of arriving in an unknown city and soon having an easy map of
understand, it is due to the conventions that were reached from geography.
8. The construction of buildings is always associated with physical laws to minimize the
risk of a landslide. In seismic zones, geology is also included to
determine the eventual intensity of the movements.
9. The succession of seasons in the year is the task of astronomy, as it is due to the
planet movement in relation to the sun.
10. The evolution of the mining industry is closely related to geology.

Bibliography

MONTAGUT NAVAS Alonso. Module on epistemology and education. Specialization

in university teaching. Francisco de Paula Santander University-Ocaña
SAGAN Carl. The World and Its Demons. 5th Edition. Editorial Planeta.
HAWKING Stephen. The Universe in a Nutshell. Eighteenth Edition.
Editorial Critica/Planeta.
HAWKING Stephen. A Brief History of Time. Sixteenth edition. Editorial Crítica
Source: https://www.ejemplos.co/examples-of-natural-sciences-in-life
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