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Abstract
The concept of science has developed since it was equated to knowledge in ancient Rome. It acquired a narrower definition to include the systematic acquisition of knowledge. This has become the assimilation of quantitative data into theories describing the scientific topic in question. Because they share similar methods, the social sciences, the law etc. have been described as scientific in the modern era. These days, the ordering of qualitative data is also included under science. To examine the various connotations of science examples are drawn from physics, wine, the law, music, sport and information.
Notes
1. Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. (But knowledge is itself power). Thus while the application of science has produced all the conveniences that the modern world has to offer, because science is really only a means to an end good or bad, the scientific age has also seen the birth of the atomic bomb and of global warming. Science has no conscience.
2. In Afrikaans it is ‘wetenskap’ (wissenschaft in German) or ‘knowledge – ship’ i.e. scholarship.
3. Other well-known classification systems are: The periodic table for chemical elements; International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, IUPAC (Chemicals compounds).
4. ‘The systematic study of the phenomena of the material universe and their laws’ [Citation3] (of which the observer is an inescapable part!)
5. In fact scientific discovery starts with a question; epitomised by the thousand questions of a child! The question then implies a hypothesis. A theory is a well-researched hypothesis.
6. The new theory can incorporate the old theory. This can be argued with respect to Newtonian physics and Relativity.
7. Science in Africa has a long tradition of interest in astronomy because of the clear night skies particularly in the desert regions. The Egyptian, Ptolemy (83–161 AD) [Citation5] wrote his treatise Almagest, in which he set out a mathematical model for the movement of the heavenly bodies purportedly based on over 800 years of observations by his predecessors. In the modern era, at the other end of the continent, South Africa hosts the Square Kilometre Array of radio telescopes in the Karroo. Areas of investigation include: gravity waves (recently detected by the Ligo (2016) experiment [Citation6]); dark energy and; the measurement of cosmic magnetic fields calculated to be million times weaker than those on earth [Citation7]. See also footnote 31.
8. 1) Thou shalt not deviate from thy constant path except under force;.
2) The rate of thy deviation shalt be only in proportion to the force applied and in its direction and no more;.
3) Thou shalt exactly counter him who acts against you but no more.
9. Ex nihilo nihil fit. (Nothing comes from nothing.).
10. This included a trip to South America early in his life as a ship’s naturalist, which in a late stage, put in at Cape Town, reported as the Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries visited during the voyage of H.M.S. ‘Beagle’ (1839) [Citation9]. In Cape Town he met the astronomer, John Herschel.
11. The Napoleon of Africa, Tshaka , the warlike King of the Zulus bred the indigenous Nguni cattle selectively so that he could have different coloured shields for each of his Impis (regiments), from whose hides they were made. His personal bodyguard had white shields [Citation11].
12. e.g. Einstein’s theory of relativity.
13. Both Newton and Leibnitz (1648–1716) are credited with inventing differential and integral calculus with the Leibnitz notation surviving.
14. The skewness can give additional information when one answers the question: ‘Why is the distribution deviating from the norm?’
15. This is similar to the mathematical process of ever greater generalisation where: Dependent Variables = f (Independent Variables). Here the function, f, is analogous to the ‘sum of the parts’, with its separate but related meaning. This can be compared with ‘a comprehensive analysis with generalisation’ ([Citation14]: p. 427).
16. At school typically, one is taught that experiments follow the formula: Aim, Method, Results and Conclusion.
17. Einstein’s (1879–1955) theory often makes the news in this regard. In the latest example his prediction of gravity waves has been proved [Citation6].
18. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field (Gen 2:20). Before it has a name, can anything be explained? (That thingummy?).
19. A pity Newton had other preoccupations else he may well have made the connection between force and energy. See footnote 8.
20. Every human occupation these days is a ‘discipline’ so this will not serve.
21. For example, in the chemical function of such neurotransmitters as dopamine in mood alteration.
22. or pride as exploited by Dr .Goebbels during the Nazi era.
23. For example, in testing the validity of a spiritual medium, the clairvoyant might ask of the subject: ‘Yes, yes, I’m getting something (from the spiritual realm)...I’ m definitely getting an “m”...Do you have a mother?’ (Anon).
24. Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it (Gen 1: 28).
25. South Africa has a tradition of constitutional law. Surrounded by their ox wagons, having recently defeated the Matabele under Moselekatse, the party of Voortrekkers led by Commandant – General Piet Retief set about establishing what would become the Orange Free State. ‘On the 6th of June 1837 a general assembly of the emigrants was held at Winburg, when a provisional constitution, consisting of nine articles was adopted. The supreme legislative power was entrusted to a single elective chamber termed the volksraad, the fundamental law was declared to be the Dutch’ ([Citation17]: p. 201). More recent constitutions were those of 1961 when RSA was declared and 1996 after warring parties were reconciled and universal adult suffrage was finally instituted.
26. In the Pistorius case, the appeal judge accepted the evidence yet overturned the judgement. There were different meanings attributed to the same words viz. ‘dolus eventualis’.
27. Or melody or even lyrical melody, depending on your persuasion.
28. Sometimes the playing of scales with embellishments in a work can be attractive, e.g. the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4. But, not all composers, however eminent, can get away with it.
29. As with the left hand on a piano, the tune being played by the right hand.
30. Including small variations; producing sharps and flats.
31. Intriguingly the Search for Extra – Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) programme of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been in operation for many years using a network of the world’s largest radio telescopes.
32. Split infinitive mission of ‘Star Trek’.