Artifact #4

Natural Science
 Natural Science

Description of artifact 4

The natural sciences seek to understand how the world and universe around us
works. There are five major branches: chemistry, astronomy, Earth science,
physics, and biology. Natural science can be divided into two main branches: life
science and physical science. Life science is alternatively known as biology, and
physical science is subdivided into branches: physics, chemistry, earth science, and
astronomy. These branches of natural science may be further divided into more
specialized branches (also known as fields).

Reflection of artifact 4

Nature, which is the subject of natural science, is viewed not abstractly, outside of
man’s activity, but concretely, under the influence of man, since cognition of
nature is achieved as a result not only of the theoretical but also of the practical
productive activities of individuals. Natural science, as a reflection of nature in
human consciousness, is perfected during the process of its active transformation
in the interests of society.

Learning goals reflected artifact 4

The goals of natural science are to discover the essence of natural phenomena and
their laws and, on this basis, to foresee or to create new phenomena; and to reveal
the potential for utilizing in practice the known laws, forces, and substances of
nature. It may be said that the cognition of truth is the direct or most immediate
goal of natural science and that facilitating the practical use of such laws is the
ultimate goal of natural science.