Natural science includes astronomy, physics, chemistry, earth science, biology and geography.
Natural science is a science that studies the material form, structure, nature and motion law of nature. It includes basic sciences such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and applied sciences such as medicine, agriculture, meteorology and materials science. It is a summary of the practical experience of human beings in transforming nature, that is, the experience of production struggle. Its development depends on the development of production.
In primitive society, due to the simplicity and clumsiness of production tools and the influence of primitive religion and other consciousness, human beings' struggle against nature is slow. However, every scientific and technological progress made by mankind has promoted the development of production, and at the same time promoted the continuous accumulation of natural science knowledge, which indicates a new breakthrough in science and technology.
It is generally believed that the ancient Greeks Thales and Aristotle were the founders of natural science, and Galileo Galilei was the initiator of introducing experiments into natural science. 18th century ago, natural science and philosophy in Europe were almost inseparable. Rene descartes, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, John Locke and other famous philosophers are also natural scientists.
In the early days of the development of natural science, the systematic study of natural objects or classifications was called Latin historia naturalis.
The task of natural science is to reveal the essence of natural phenomena and processes, and then grasp the regularity of these phenomena and processes, and foresee new phenomena and processes, thus opening up various possible ways for rational and purposeful application of natural laws in social practice.
Social science is a science about the nature and laws of social things. Social science is the scientific study of human social phenomena. For example, sociology studies human society (mainly contemporary), politics studies politics, policies and related activities, and economics studies resource allocation. "Social science" in a broad sense is the general name of humanities and social sciences, including humanities.