Natural Sciences Classification: Understanding the Core Disciplines

By Olivia ParkerLast Updated May 22, 2025

Understand natural sciences and their classification

The classification of scientific disciplines helps organize our understanding of the natural world and human make systems. Among these classifications, natural sciences occupy a distinct position, but not all sciences fall under this category. This distinction is crucial for students, researchers, and anyone interested in the scientific method and its applications.

What are natural sciences?

Natural sciences encompass disciplines that study the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation. These sciences focus on understand natural phenomena, physical properties, and the laws govern our universe.

The key characteristic of natural sciences is their empirical approach â€” they rely on systematic observation, measurement, and experimentation to formulate, test, and modify hypotheses about the natural world. The scientific method serves as the foundation for inquiry in these disciplines.

Core natural science disciplines

Several disciplines are universally recognized as natural sciences:

Physics

Physics examines matter, energy, and their interactions. From the subatomic realm to cosmic scales, physics seek to understand the fundamental forces and laws that govern the universe. Key branches include:

Classical mechanics
Electromagnetism
Thermodynamics
Quantum mechanics
Relativity

Physics employ mathematical models to describe natural phenomena and make predictions that can be tested through experiments.

Chemistry

Chemistry study the composition, properties, and transformations of matter. It examines how atoms and molecules interact through chemical bonds and reactions. Major subdivisions include:

Organic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry
Physical chemistry
Analytical chemistry
Biochemistry

Chemists investigate the structure of substances, analyze their properties, and develop new compounds for various applications.

Biology

Biology studies live organisms and their interactions with each other and the environment. This vast field encompass:

Molecular biology
Cellular biology
Genetics
Ecology
Evolutionary biology
Physiology

Biologists examine the structures, functions, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy of live organisms.

Earth sciences

Earth sciences (or geosciences )focus on the earth’s physical structure, composition, processes, and history. They include:

Geology
Meteorology
Oceanography
Atmospheric science
Hydrology

These disciplines investigate the earth’s systems, from its core to its atmosphere, and the processes that shape our planet.

Astronomy

Astronomy studies celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole. It examines:

Stars and stellar evolution
Planets and planetary systems
Galaxies
Cosmology
Astrophysics

Astronomers observe and analyze celestial phenomena to understand the origin, evolution, and fate of the universe.

Sciences not classify as natural sciences

While natural sciences focus on the physical and natural world, several scientific disciplines fall outside this classification. These sciences are evenly rigorous but differ in their subject and methodologies.

Social sciences

Social sciences study human society and social relationships. Unlike natural sciences that focus on physical phenomena, social sciences examine human behavior, social structures, and cultural dynamics.

Social sciences are not considered natural sciences

Because they principally study human create systems instead than course occur phenomena. While they employ scientific methods, their subject â€” human behavior and social structures â€” is basically different from the physical world study by natural sciences.

Major social science disciplines

Psychology:

Studies the human mind and behavior, include cognitive processes, development, and mental health.
Sociology:

Examines human society, social relationships, and institutions.
Anthropology:

Investigate human cultures, societies, and evolution across time and space.
Economics:

Studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
Political science:

Analyzes political systems, governance, and power relations.
Geography:

While partially a natural science when study physical geography, human geography examine the relationship between humans and their environment.

Formal sciences

Formal sciences develop formal systems of abstract thought preferably than study natural phenomena direct. They create frameworks and languages for describing both natural and social sciences.

Formal sciences are not natural sciences

Because they don’t direct study natural phenomena through observation and experimentation. Rather, they deal with abstract structures and systems create by human thought.

Key formal sciences

Mathematics:

Studies quantity, structure, space, and change through abstract reasoning and logical deduction.
Logic:

Examine the principles of valid reasoning and argumentation.
Statistics:

Develop methods for collect, analyze, interpreting, and present data.
Computer science:

Studies computation, information processing, and algorithmic problem-solving.
Systems theory:

Investigates organize complexity and the principles common to all complex entities.

Applied sciences

Applied sciences use scientific knowledge for practical purposes. While they draw intemperately from natural sciences, they focus on applications preferably than fundamental understanding.

Some applied sciences include:

Engineering:

Apply scientific and mathematical principles to design and build structures, machines, systems, and processes.
Medicine:

Apply biological and chemical knowledge to maintain health and treat disease.
Agriculture:

Uses biological and earth science knowledge to improve crop production and animal husbandry.
Pharmacy:

Apply chemical and biological principles to develop and use medications.

While these fields use natural science principles, they’re oftentimes classified individually due to their practical focus.

Interdisciplinary sciences

Many modern scientific fields cross traditional boundaries, make classification challenging. Examples include:

Biochemistry:

Bridges biology and chemistry
Neuroscience:

Connects biology, psychology, and medicine
Environmental science:

Integrates biology, chemistry, geology, and social sciences
Cognitive science:

Combines psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, computer science, and philosophy

These interdisciplinary fields may have components of natural sciences but oftentimes incorporate methodologies and perspectives from other scientific categories.

Key differences between natural and non-natural sciences

Several factors distinguish natural sciences from other scientific categories:

Subject

Natural sciences study physical phenomena and entities that exist severally of human thought or activity. In contrast, social sciences examine human behavior and social structures, while formal sciences deal with abstract concepts and systems create by human intellect.

Methodology

Natural sciences rely intemperately on control experiments, systematic observation, and quantitative measurement. While social sciences besides use empirical methods, they oftentimes incorporate qualitative approaches and face challenges in control variables due to the complexity of human behavior. Formal sciences principally use deductive reasoning and logical proof preferably than empirical testing.

Predictability and universality

Natural sciences typically seek universal laws that apply systematically across time and space. The behavior of atoms, chemical reactions, or gravitational forces follow predictable patterns. Social phenomena, yet, are influence by cultural, historical, and individual factors, make universal laws more difficult to establish. Human agency and free will introduce variables that won’t exist in natural systems.

Objectivity and value neutrality

Natural sciences strive for objective observation independent of the observer’s values or biases. While all sciences aim for objectivity, social sciences must contend with the researcher’s cultural background, values, and perspectives when study human behavior. Additionally, social science research oftentimes have ethical and political implications that natural science may not face to the same degree.

The importance of scientific classification

Understand the boundaries between natural sciences and other scientific disciplines serve several important purposes:

It helps organize academic departments, research funding, and educational curricula
It clarifies the appropriate methodologies and standards for different types of inquiry
It facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration by identify complementary approaches
It provides context for interpret scientific claims and understand their limitations

Nonetheless, these classifications should not be seen as rigid barriers. Many of today’s virtually significant scientific advances occur at the intersections of traditional disciplines, where methodologies and insights from different fields combine to address complex problems.

Conclusion

When ask which science is not considered a natural science, the answer principally points to the social sciences â€” psychology, sociology, economics, anthropology, and political science. These disciplines study human behavior and social structures preferably than the physical or natural world. Formal sciences like mathematics, logic, and computer science besides fall outside the natural science classification, as do apply sciences that focus on practical applications preferably than fundamental understanding.

The distinction between natural and non-natural sciences help us understand different approaches to knowledge and inquiry. While natural sciences examine the physical world through observation and experimentation, other scientific disciplines contribute evenly valuable insights through their unique methodologies and perspectives. Unitedly, these diverse approaches to scientific inquiry provide a comprehensive understanding of both the natural world and human experience.