Speculative science theoretical

Now that the answer to what does science do has been introduced, names can be attached to the doing (1) the theoretical or speculative sciences are those in which truth as truth is studied (2) in the applied sciences truth in do-ing/action and truth in making/beauty are studied and (3) in the methodological sciences how human reasoning leads to truth are studied. 

Wetzel RG (1990) Reservoir ecosystems Conclusions and speculations. In Tundisi JG, Straskraba M (eds) Theoretical reservoir ecology and its applications. International Institute of Ecology. Brazilian Academy of Sciences and Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, pp 195-208... 

The manuscript is published, with extensive, valuable background and explication in R. McCormmach, Speculative Truth Henry Cavendish, Natural Philosophy, and the Rise of Modern Theoretical Science (Oxford Oxford University Press, 2004). 

In the realm of science fiction there have occasionally been forms of life proposed that, while often highly speculative and unsupported by rigorous theoretical examination, are nevertheless interesting and in some... 

The dramatic story of the discovery of Ceo and of a way of manufacturing this new molecule in gram quantities is now well known to professionals and amateurs of science alike. " Cgo and its companion C70 have become the prototypes of a whole new class of molecules—the fullerenes—and the chemistry, physics, and materials science literature since 1985 and especially since 1990 has been flooded with reports of measurements, calculations, and speculations on their properties. For the theoretical chemist, one of the prime motivations for studying the fullerenes is that they show a clear link between geometrical/topological and electronic structure. This link will be reviewed here. 

As such a clear picture is rarely available, the most widespread and secure approach in science is reductionism. Emergentism is often considered, with reason, as pure speculation, owing to the lack of theoretical tools. 

What exactly is studied within the particular sciences is perhaps best depicted in the diagram below which relates the two major distinctions noted above. In addition, the diagram will help distinguish the speculative (theoretical) sciences through their subject matter by means of the level of abstraction. 

The goal of the speculative (theoretical or pure ) sciences is to conform one s mind to reality. The goal of the applied sciences is to conform one s actions to reality, and therefore by them know (a) which actions conform to reality, (b) what ought to be done, and (c) how and why one should act. 

By now there is an extensive literature discussing the possible causes of the neglect of chemistry in the philosophy of science and there may be some truth in every suggestion made. Here we list some of the factors that may have played a role, most of which can be seen as stage-set by Kant s pronoimcements on the status of chemistry. First of all, prior to 1960 philosophy of science was almost exclusively interested in theoretical science. That chemistry is not theoretical in the sense of theoretical physics tends to be supported by chemists themselves who, according to the chemist Polanyi [1958, 156], have always been wary of theoretical speculation unsupported by detailed experimental observations. This is a recm-rent theme in the public lectures of well-known chemists. 

In particular, we d like to thank the following individuals, without whose contributions, and discussions this work would not be half as useful Academician A. Berlin, Professor I. Eruhimovich, Professor V. Irgak, Professor G. Korolev, Professor V. Kuleznev, correspondent member of the Russian Academy of Sciences V. Kuliehiehin, Professor V. Lancov, Academician Yu. Lipatov, Professor L. Manevich, Professor Yu. Morozov, Professor V. Hozin, Professor A. Chalykh et al. We d also like to express our thanks to Professor A. Oleinic and Professor V. Shilov who reject some ideas which the authors support. This rejection stimulated new theoretical and experimental research as well as speculation on these ideas. We appreciate this fact greatly. 

---