Nature & Functions of Social Science vs Natural Sciences

Lesson Scope and Purpose

  • Focus: Nature & functions of Social Science disciplines vis-à-vis Natural Sciences and Humanities
  • Goal: Clarify how each branch explains the relationship between humans, society, and the environment

Key Learning Targets (Student Outcomes)

  • Explain what distinguishes Social Sciences from Natural Sciences & Humanities
  • Relate each branch’s purpose to day-to-day social issues
  • Provide real-life situations that illustrate differences among the three branches

Core Definitions

  • Science – systematic body of knowledge established through the scientific method (inquiry, observation, experimentation)
  • Natural Science – studies matter, energy, and objectively measurable phenomena (e.g., physics, chemistry, biology)
  • Social Science – studies human society, its institutions, and interpersonal relations (e.g., sociology, anthropology, economics)
  • Humanities – explores human experience, values, and expression (e.g., literature, philosophy, arts)

Major Divisions of Science

  • Natural Sciences
    • Object of study: Physical & biological world
    • Method: Quantitative, experimental, laboratory-based
    • Output: Universal laws & measurable truths (e.g., gravity, chemical reactions)
  • Social Sciences
    • Object of study: Social structures & human interactions
    • Method: Mixed (qualitative interviews, surveys, statistical analysis, ethnography)
    • Output: Theories & explanations of social behavior (e.g., structural-functionalism, Marxism)
  • Humanities
    • Object of study: Meaning-making, culture, ethics, aesthetics
    • Method: Critical analysis, interpretation, historical context
    • Output: Insights into human values, narratives, and creativity

Why Study Social Sciences?

  • Illuminate how society shapes individuals & vice-versa
  • Provide tools to analyze socio-cultural, economic, and political issues
  • Inform policies aimed at social welfare & development

Guiding Theories Mentioned in Syllabus

  • Structural-Functionalism
  • Marxism
  • Symbolic Interactionism
  • Psychoanalysis, Rational Choice, Institutionalism, Feminist Theory, Hermeneutical Phenomenology, Human-Environment Systems

Application in Real-Life Contexts

  • Using survey data to craft public-health campaigns (Social Science)
  • Identifying chemical properties of a vaccine (Natural Science)
  • Interpreting pandemic narratives in literature & media (Humanities)

Essential Takeaways

  • All three branches share the ultimate aim of explaining human existence, yet differ in subject matter and methods.
  • Natural Sciences supply measurable laws; Social Sciences decode social behavior; Humanities interpret meaning and values.
  • Interdisciplinary cooperation enhances understanding of complex real-world problems.