Re: Probability Theory--A Science?

From: W. Wat son (wolf_tracks_at_invalid.inv)
Date: 02/03/05 

Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2005 18:23:34 GMT

Einar Andreas Rødland wrote:

> W. Wat son wrote:
>
>> Mathematics is not considered a science, but is probability theory?
>> Statistics? I would lean to yes on both.
>
>
> Probability theory and statistics (the theory at least) are both
> branches of mathematics.
>
> In other languages, there are several distinct words for 'science'
> corresponding to different meanings of 'science'. I'll give the germanic
> terms (modulo misspellings).
>
> 1. natural science (Naturwissenschaft);
> 2. natural and mathematical sciences (Realwissenschaft);
> 3. all kinds of research including social sciences (Wissenschaft).
>
> As far as I understand, in English the term 'science' can mean either
> the study of the the physical world (i.e. 1. natural science) or
> research in general (i.e. 3.). I'm not certain if it is also used in
> sense 2. as well, though I can't find that in any of the dictionaries I
> checked.
>
> Mathematics and statistics are not part of natural science, though they
> are both extensively used in them, so in that use (1.) of the word the
> answer is no, however they are both sciences is the more general sense
> (3.).
>
> Einar
An interesting view of the difference between European and U.S. science can
be found in European Dream by Rifkin. I've been browsing it of late. It's a
very up beat book on the future of the EU. He mentions that Europe has
taken on the New Englighment (reductionism vs relations; Newtonian concepts
vs systems concepts). Also has an interesting couple of pages on ecology
(transborder parks). 

-- 
              Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
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