Science vs. Philosophy — What's the Difference?

An academic discipline concerned with the study of the physical and natural world.

The study of moral values and how they affect human behavior.

The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the natural world.

The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, existence, and reality.

A systematically organized body of knowledge on a particular subject.

A set of beliefs or principles that guide an individual's or group's behavior.

The practice of organizing and classifying knowledge based on testable explanations and predictions.

A theory or set of beliefs held and taught by an individual or group.

Knowledge obtained through study or practice.

The rational investigation of the truths and principles of existence.

Science (from Latin scientia 'knowledge') is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.The earliest roots of science can be traced to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia in around 3000 to 1200 BCE. Their contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and medicine entered and shaped Greek natural philosophy of classical antiquity, whereby formal attempts were made to provide explanations of events in the physical world based on natural causes. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, knowledge of Greek conceptions of the world deteriorated in Western Europe during the early centuries (400 to 1000 CE) of the Middle Ages, but was preserved in the Muslim world during the Islamic Golden Age.

Philosophy (from Greek: φιλοσοφία, philosophia, 'love of wisdom') is the study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved.

The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena

The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.

Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena

A theory or attitude that acts as a guiding principle for behaviour

A systematic method or body of knowledge in a given area

The study of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning.

(Archaic) Knowledge, especially that gained through experience.

A system of thought based on or involving such study

(countable) A particular discipline or branch of learning, especially one dealing with measurable or systematic principles rather than intuition or natural ability.

The study of the theoretical underpinnings of a particular field or discipline

Specifically the natural sciences.

An underlying theory or set of ideas relating to a particular field of activity or to life as a whole

Knowledge gained through study or practice; mastery of a particular discipline or area.

The love of wisdom.

The fact of knowing something; knowledge or understanding of a truth.

(uncountable) An academic discipline that seeks truth through reasoning rather than empiricism.

(uncountable) The collective discipline of study or learning acquired through the scientific method; the sum of knowledge gained from such methods and discipline.

(countable) A comprehensive system of belief.

(uncountable) Knowledge derived from scientific disciplines, scientific method, or any systematic effort.

(countable) A view or outlook regarding fundamental principles underlying some domain.

The scientific community.

(countable) A general principle (usually moral).

Synonym of sweet science

(archaic) A broader branch of (non-applied) science.

Obsolete spelling of scion

A calm and thoughtful demeanor; calmness of temper.

To cause to become versed in science; to make skilled; to instruct.

Synonym of small pica.

To use science to solve a problem.

To philosophize.

Knowledge; knowledge of principles and causes; ascertained truth of facts.

Literally, the love of, inducing the search after, wisdom; in actual usage, the knowledge of phenomena as explained by, and resolved into, causes and reasons, powers and laws.

Accumulated and established knowledge, which has been systematized and formulated with reference to the discovery of general truths or the operation of general laws; knowledge classified and made available in work, life, or the search for truth; comprehensive, profound, or philosophical knowledge.

A particular philosophical system or theory; the hypothesis by which particular phenomena are explained.

Especially, such knowledge when it relates to the physical world and its phenomena, the nature, constitution, and forces of matter, the qualities and functions of living tissues, etc.; - called also natural science, and physical science.

Practical wisdom; calmness of temper and judgment; equanimity; fortitude; stoicism; as, to meet misfortune with philosophy.

Any branch or department of systematized knowledge considered as a distinct field of investigation or object of study; as, the science of astronomy, of chemistry, or of mind.

Reasoning; argumentation.

Art, skill, or expertness, regarded as the result of knowledge of laws and principles.

The course of sciences read in the schools.

To cause to become versed in science; to make skilled; to instruct.

A treatise on philosophy.

A particular branch of scientific knowledge;

A belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school

Ability to produce solutions in some problem domain;

The rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics

Any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation;

Philosophy often ventures into abstract realms beyond empirical evidence.

His Philosophy in life is to treat others as he'd like to be treated.

She was drawn to Philosophy because of its exploration of ethics.

Eastern and Western Philosophies often have different perspectives on life.

Philosophy challenges us to question the nature of our existence.

Philosophy addresses fundamental questions about existence, ethics, and knowledge, shaping our worldview and beliefs.

Science aims to understand the natural world through empirical evidence and experimentation.

Philosophy relies on logical reasoning and thought experiments, whereas Science uses empirical data and physical experiments.

While Science can provide insights, philosophical questions often require abstract reasoning beyond empirical evidence.

Science uses the scientific method, revising theories based on new evidence and peer review.

Philosophical questions often address abstract concepts without definitive empirical evidence, leading to evolving answers.

Yes, especially in areas like the philosophy of science, which examines the foundations and ethics of scientific practices.

Experimentation tests hypotheses, helping validate or refute theories in Science.

While both seek to understand truths, Science focuses on the tangible and observable, and Philosophy delves into abstract and fundamental questions.

Philosophy predates the formalized scientific method, making it older than what we recognize as modern Science.

Philosophical discussions influence ethics, law, governance, and even personal beliefs, impacting societal values and actions.

Some questions, especially those about abstract concepts or values, are beyond the scope of empirical evidence.

No, many scientists appreciate and engage with philosophical concepts, seeing them as complementary to their work.

Yes, it's a subfield that examines the foundations, methods, and implications of Science.

Philosophers use logical reasoning, historical texts, and debate to explore ethical principles and dilemmas.