4 ms·

Or mathematics.

• ivalm 7y ago
  I would argue mathematics isn't really a science, as it isn't outward looking to the world, rather it is a study of self-consistent rewriting rules. You can obtain any mathematical result without knowing anything about the universe (something also true for, lets say, analytic philosophy).
  • disgruntledphd2 7y ago
    Yeah. My personal theory is that mathematics is a language, which happens to be useful in the description of scientific phenomena.
  • jevgeni 7y ago
    Sure, but then the distinction between science / not-science hasn't got that much value. A not-science (math) is the most critical tool in the scientific toolbox, and hence contributed more to scientific progress than any isolated branch of science.
    • ivalm 7y ago
      Sure, natural languages also contributed "more to science" than "any isolated branch" but learning a language (for its use rather than linguistics/anthropology) isnt a science. I think it is a useful distinction.