

CHAPTER VII 



DESCRIPTIVE SCIENCE 



Science, in the broadest sense of the word, is any body of 

 symbols presumed to be applicable to the realm of events. 

 In this definition the term " applicable ' : is conveniently 

 obscure. The widest disagreements exist among the logicians 

 of science as to the precise nature of the relation which the 

 symbolic scheme bears to the world. The symbols may 

 describe'' or they may "explain"; they may be merely 



conventions'* or they may be "instruments of practical 

 adjustment"; they may be mere " constructions ' : or they 

 may "reveal the true nature of things." It will be the task 

 of the next chapter to make a critical examination of some 

 of these notions. 



For the present, attention will be directed to a more 

 empirical question. There are, clearly, certain sciences 

 which claim to be empirical or descriptive in character; 

 biology, geography, sociology, economics, and psychology 

 are presumably such sciences. If there is any meaning in 

 this characterization, it seems reasonable to suppose that 

 such sciences as these exhibit certain features by virtue of 

 which they may be thus grouped together. Are there any 

 aspects of subject matter, or method, or symbolic reference, 

 or integration, by which an empirical science may be 

 recognized ? 



An alternative approach to the same problem is indicated 

 by the considerations brought forward in the preceding 

 chapter. The initial stage of every science, as was shown, 

 lies in the accumulation and symbolism of data. Supposing 

 that these preliminary processes have been completed, is 

 one justified in saying that the result is science? If the term 

 is defined sufficiently broadly, there seems little doubt as 

 to the answer. Such a body of symbols is at least an em- 



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