Post by Athel Cornish-BowdenPost by Ross Clarkzzzzzz....Oh! UNESCO, 2002-
"It might be thought that language isn't a relevant topic on this day..."
But Crystal has a few words to say about alternative terms for
linguistics (or some sub- or super-field thereof) which involve the
word "science": language science(s), linguistic science, speech
science, phonetic science
OK, still boring. Let's move on.
Best to omit the "science" from all of these.
"Anything with 'science' in its name isn't a science." See
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/06/26/not-science/
Think of Christian Science, social science, political science, etc.
....not to mention Religious Science (est. 1922), and Dianetics: The
Modern Science of Mental Health (est.1950), forerunner of S****tology.
It is also true that in some academic realms, being a Science gets you a
higher level of funding than being an Art.
Just where the boundary of "science" is to be drawn is a topic I've long
since fulfilled my lifetime quota of arguing about.
a big cause of this (debate?) may be about the Terms
"Wissenschaft" and "science."
"Wissenschaft" is the German word for "science." However, it
has a broader meaning than just the natural sciences; it encompasses all
forms of systematic study and knowledge, including the humanities and
social sciences. In English, "science" typically refers to empirical and
experimental fields, while "Wissenschaft" can refer to scholarly inquiry
in general.
Friedrich Nietzsche wrote a book titled Die fröhliche
Wissenschaft, which translates to The Gay Science in English. Published
in 1882, it explores themes of art, knowledge, and the nature of
existence. The term "gay" in this context refers to joyfulness or
cheerfulness. The work is notable for introducing the idea of the "death
of God" and reflects Nietzsche's thoughts on the implications of this
concept for culture and philosophy.
Wissenschaft als Beruf (translated as Science as a Vocation) is
a lecture given by Max Weber in 1917.