Science

The results of investigations in the natural, social, and medical sciences and the achievements of technology are dealt with in Parts One through Five and in Part Seven. The outlines in the seven sections of Division III are concerned with inquiries that have viewed those sciences and technology as the objects of historical and analytical studies.

Section 10/31 deals with science taken generally. It first presents a synoptic history of Western and Eastern science. It then deals with the nature and scope of the philosophy of science, and with analyses of the empirical procedures and formal structures of science, of science's modes of discovery, and of validating concepts and theories.

Section 10/32 is on the physical sciences. The outline first deals with the historical evolution of astronomy and astrophysics, of physics, and of chemistry. Then, for each of them, it treats issues about the nature, scope, component disciplines, methods, and principal problems of the discipline.

Similarly, Section 10/33 first deals with the history of the several complementary Earth sciences, and then with studies of the nature, scope, methods, and principal problems of the geologic, hydrologic, and atmospheric sciences.

Section 10/34 is first concerned with the historical development of the biological sciences and with issues about the methodology, scope, and conceptual structure of biology as a whole. It then sets forth the work done at four levels of biological research: the molecular, cellular, organismic, and population levels. Finally, it treats issues in the philosophy of biology: issues about the nature of biological systems, issues concerning evolution and evolutionary theory, and biological issues with ethical implications.

Section 10/35 treats the history of medicine; the many specialized fields of medical practice and research; and such affiliated disciplines as dentistry, osteopathy, nursing, and pharmacy.

Section 10/36 is on the social sciences and psychology. It first deals with the general historical development of the social sciences. It then separately treats the development, nature, scope, and methods of the particular social sciences: anthropology, sociology, economics, and political science. Finally, it deals with the history, scope, and methods of psychology.

Section 10/37 treats the history of the technological sciences; the academic and professional aspects of engineering; the nature and scope of agricultural sciences; and the nature and scope of such recently developed interdisciplinary fields as bionics, systems engineering, and cybernetics.