What Is the Philosophy of Science?

History of Science

The chronology of what happened in science. How what was believed influenced later work. How science affects, and is affected by other historical events.

Sociology of Science

The social structure of science, and the roles of scientists in that structure. How the structure of science influences, and is influenced by, the structure of the rest of society.

Philosophy of Science

What we know or have good reason to believe—epistemology: What is it about what scientists do that gives us good reason to believe scientific claims?

Standard answers have included, among other things, rules, standards, thought process, defining terms rigorously.

What there is—ontology.

-- ShaughanLavine - 20 Jan 2009