The concept of modern natural science. Logical and philosophical sketch

The essence and task of natural science. Natural worlds

The concept of modern science until now has not settled in the science of science. A very significant number of authors have their own conceptual versions, which, as a rule, are not coordinated among themselves. Disagreements concern not only the structure of the subject, but also its history.

On the question of the essence of natural science, the authors agree on the following.

If the sciences that study nature combine in a system, then such a system will be a natural science. At the same time, nature means a set of worlds, which is achievable for all forms of human experience, i.e. Universe. They (the worlds of the Universe) are the object of study in natural science.

In terms of the scale of the worlds, they can be divided into 3 interrelated components:

• The nature of the microcosm;
• Nature of the macrocosm;
• The nature of the megaworld.

The nature of the microworld is an area whose boundaries are determined by the size of the atom. This is a world of phenomena that are smaller than an atom or equal to it.

The nature of the macrocosm extends from the dimensions of the atom to the measurability of the earth. This is a world of phenomena that are larger than an atom, but smaller than the Earth or equal to it.

The nature of the megaworks is limited by the dimensions of the Earth - on the smaller side and the dimensions of the universe - with the larger.

As you know, worlds are reflected in consciousness. It is noteworthy that only in reflected form a person can observe them, since he has no other reflexive (reflecting) ability, except the capacity of consciousness.

In terms of the properties of reflection, there are two types of worlds:

- Objective reality (reflected). It is dominated by a special form of consciousness - undistorted. This form ("pure consciousness") is not a property of a person, its existence can only be assumed.

The world of the objective as such can not be repelled, because, as noted above, a person has nothing to reflect on. However, through the mediation of the objective, the objective is knowable and is subject to investigation.

- Subjective reality (reflected). The world of the subjective, on the contrary, is the result of reflection. It is a world distorted by the intervention of human consciousness.

Speaking about the main task of natural science, most authors agree that it studies the objective laws of nature.

Description, understanding, explanation in natural science

The properties of objects and phenomena are not quantitatively limited. With each new study of nature, there is always a chance to open the phenomenon and the subject in a new perspective, with new features. A thing has an infinite number of properties.

Only a certain, limited accuracy is possible with a quantitative characteristic of a property.

Even one object or one phenomenon does not allow us to account for all their properties. It is also impossible to investigate the nature of one property with the requirement of zero error, i.e. Infinite accuracy.

Full knowledge of any subject or phenomenon is impossible. It is only possible to take into account some part in the cumulative knowledge of their properties, and a completely certain error will be admitted.

Supplying the phenomenon with an adequate mathematical description does not mean that this phenomenon has become clear. In fact, the explanation of the phenomenon means an explanation of its nature, the reasons that caused the existence of this phenomenon and dictate its given, and not other behavior.

To explain a thing in this way means to reveal:

• Mechanism and inner essence of a thing;
• Reasons for the fact that each part of it is moving;
• The mechanism of how these parts interact;
• A picture of how this movement interacts with other phenomena and material formations.

Almost every concept of modern natural science is based on the fact that things are knowable when their inner essence is revealed.

Stages of development of natural sciences

Productive forces in the era of the ancient world and the Middle Ages developed without reliance on scientific knowledge, then still elementary and rudimentary. In any case, the beginnings of ancient knowledge in no way constituted a necessary condition for the development of the productive forces. The basis for the transformation and conquest of nature were religious representations, as well as practical knowledge and empirical skills.

This period of development of knowledge about nature carried in itself a certain (relatively small) number of early discoveries, which in the future were partially laid in the foundation of the sciences. However, technology and technology developed almost without overlap with these discoveries, slowly enough in terms of progress.

In the production processes, both the physical and mental labor efforts were made by the producers themselves. Their knowledge was enough to independently conduct the production chosen by them.

This stage in the history of the reflection of nature by consciousness should be called pre-scientific. It is important to note that, from the point of view of periodization, the very use of the term "natural science" in relation to this epoch is conditional.

At the beginning of the next stage - the stage of scientific knowledge - deeply in their foundation lay the philosophy. This is mentioned almost every concept of modern science.

Along with the accumulation of experience and empirical skills, a need arose for their processing, systematization and generalization.

The transformation of practical knowledge into the beginnings of sciences led to the formation of elements of scientific knowledge: first physical, astronomical, biological, geological, later - geographic, mechanical,

If on the basis of this article the most general conception of modern natural science was built, then it would be affirmed that it counts its century from 1948, when Norbert Wiener created cybernetics. According to this science, the living nature and society are governed by strictly defined laws. The discovery of Wiener was of immense importance for the entire scientific paradigm of the 20th and 21st centuries, and cybernetics received the informal title of "science of science."

Since the late 90-ies of the 20 century. The successor of cybernetics was informatics, which, in turn, up to nowadays is considered a "science of sciences".

Modern natural science, which sooner or later acquires a single concept, for its creation will require continuous consideration of changes in scientific world pictures. In it itself, it will be necessary to provide a mechanism for updating it.