Talk:Formal science

Is this term on use

Jon Awbrey 06:30, 12 January 2006 (UTC)

Is this term in use? Tom Harrison ^Talk 20:35, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

Yes, the formal sciences, math, logic, topology, etc.. exist.

Applied math is different from theoretical math. The math we all are most familiar with is applied math. At the university level you can choose if you want to work with math as a theoretical subject, or work with applied math. A lot of people think that the algebra you learn in school is the only existing mathematical model, and that it is infallible. The fact that it is only one of millions of theoretical mathematical models is taught at the university level. Roger491127 (talk) 14:40, 13 January 2008 (UTC)

The first line in the history section, "The study of formal science began much earlier than natural science..." is very questionable, and no reference is given. Considering that you first need to develop the basic terms and operations in applied math before you can start building more complex and theoretical math models it is highly unlikely that the development of formal sciences could begin before applied math like measuring land areas had been developed. Roger491127 (talk) 16:11, 13 January 2008 (UTC)

The term "Formal science"

I've never heard the term "Formal Science" before reading it on wikipedia, and I am a pure mathematics graduate. Personally I rather like the term; it is a sensible classification to distinguish mathematics and related subjects from the empirical sciences (it would perhaps be more correct, though unfortunately some would find it offensive, to simply refer to logic, computer science, linguistics etc. under the general heading of "Mathematics"; ironically, I'm guessing the term "Formal Science" came about specifically through lack of a place to put mathematics in the academic spectrum, but was then defined to be basically synonymous with mathematics). However, opinions aside, this page really shouldn't exist (or, at least, the term shouldn't be mentioned on the "Academic Disciplines" page, which is where I found this page) unless it is in common usage. Can anybody find any universities with a "Formal Science" department? Whether or not the term makes sense, it shouldn't be part of wikipedia unless it has been used elsewhere (much like with "Dharmic religion"). 217.155.61.70 (talk) 13:26, 18 March 2008 (UTC)

This term shouldn't exist...!?

• C. West Churchman (1940), Elements of Logic and Formal Science, J.B. Lippincott Co., New York.
• Bernt P. Stigum (1990), Toward a Formal Science of Economics, MIT Press

And books like this shouldn't have been named like that? No, Wikipedia has the task to clearify terms, not to eliminate them. -- Mdd (talk) 16:07, 18 March 2008 (UTC)

A google search gives 34,300 hits for "Formal Science". By comparison there are 4,420,000 for "Natural Science". I'm not debating this terms existence, rather, I'm questioning its use as a classification of academic disciplines (which would make "Formal Science" to mathematics what "Natural Science" is to physics; the term does not appear to be on that same level). I will post this concern on the academic disciplines page however. For this page, I suggest it be rewritten to reflect the terms actual usage; it appears to be a nick-name for subjects with a mathematical approach, and not a historical discipline. The history section is unnecessary unless there are any historical uses of the term (link to history of mathematics instead). Similarly the overview serves no purpose if it is no different than an overview of mathematics. 217.155.61.70 (talk) 12:59, 19 March 2008 (UTC)