Human sciences
The AOK of the human sciences is integrated by several disciplines. Nevertheless, certain disciplines have more "respect" than others. Economics is highly reputed due to its element of mathematical proof, while some people believe that areas such as gender studies cannot be considered a science.
What criteria should be used to measure the "respect" there is for a science? In this case, the greater respect that economy receives is based on its relation to mathematics. This could be used to extrapole the broader idea that a discipline´s degree of objectivity is a key factor because it allows us to determine whether certain knowledge is really useful or simply talk.
Scope and applications
There is fundamental difference in the study of individuals that the human sciences and the natural sciences carry out. Natural sciences focus their investigation on behaviors that stem from our nature as beings. Human sciences aim to develop behavioral patterns based on the notion that humans have a conscience and they are free to make decisions depending on the situation, that is why patterns are usually more difficult to find in the human sciences. This idea can also be applied to practically all disciplines in the natural sciences, as a particular behavior is fixed.
As a result, exceptions have a much greater importance in the natural sciences, where a whole theory can be debunked for this reason
The idea behind the theories in the natural sciences and the human sciences is very similar, the search of patterns. The theories themselves, however, are very different, fundamentally because in the natural sciences it could be argued that that certainty exists , whereas likelihood is the greatest degree of certainty that can be achieved in the human sciences
In the 19th century the notions of rationality, objectivity and prediction were very strongly linked to knowledge and as a result some areas of knowledge try to model themselves after the natural sciences where this ideas are the base.
Language
Language is very useful when dealing with social facts, when used as a metaphor and to name key terms
Social facts are aspects on society that are agreed upon by a large number of people. The are not in the nature of the universe bu this does not make them less factual. Facts that occur due to natural factors that are always the same are called brute facts.
Social facts come into existence due to a very special use of the language, as the language is used to change reality instead of describing it. Facts reflect one of the fundamental facts that make human and natural sciences different. In human sciences the facts that we observe are determined by humans, whereas in the natural sciences it is not up to us to change them.
Metaphors
Metaphors are very useful when describing certain concepts. These metaphors are very commonly taken from areas of the natural sciences such as physics. The use of these metaphors can in many cases bring the characteristic exactitude of the natural sciences to the human sciences. In fact, metaphors can be taken a step further and be used for calculations, such as the flows of money into a country
Action
Happenings that are a result of human will. Actions have a reason
Movement
Things that happen for natural reasons. Movement has a cause
Methodology
The same as in the natural sciences, the human sciences require the use of observation and experimentation in combination. This is why they are considered a science
Some proprietary methods of the natural sciences can be applied to the human sciences and its use brings precision to results that could have been calculated otherwise.
Ethics in experiments
Ethics must be taken into consideration before experimentation, as certain as some actions can violate fundamental rights or have harmful results.
Positivists consider any assumption of something that cannot be seen incorrect and thus, it would be unethical to base investigation on this sort of assumption.
Even though there are some fundamental differences between the two main schools of thought in the area of human sciences (behaviorist and human) , there are firs-person approaches that can reconcile both.
Introspection gives importance to the thoughts of the subject of a particular experiment. He is one element in the experiment closest to certainty and can know directly the reasons for action.
The observer as part of an experiment. One of the main fallouts of experimentation is that an observer can never accurately reproduce an environment he observes as it will inevitably affected by his or her perception. This problem is difficult to address but can be solved by considering the observer's bias as much as possible.
Mathematical models
The specific mathematical models that are useful in the human sciences have to be both explanatory and useful for predictions. In many cases, these models are only explanatory, as predictive models are too complex and would lose its explanatory function. This kind of models are used in every scientific discipline.
Certain assumptions about human nature have to be made in the human sciences. In many areas different existing schools of thought make different assumptions about human nature and thus, the resulting theories are different.
These assumptions change with knowledge over time and courses of action considered logical in a particular epoch may not be some years later
Historical development
The development of knowledge changes according to our interests. In the human sciences this shift is usually a change in emphasis. For instance, after the global crisis in 2008 most economic papers had a focus on theories describing steps to solve that situation.
Currently, certain economists are trying to establish a new discipline in which human qualities are valued for what they are and are not seen as a resource to be exploited.
Link to personal knowledge
The human sciences have a very strong link to personal knowledge because almost all the knowledge it contains is biased and depends on the perception of its author. All the elements in our life that build up our personal traits and personal knowledge end up influencing majorly the knowledge we can produce in the human sciences.
John Nash was diagnosed with
schizophrenia. After treatment he said that if he had not been schizophrenic he would not have had his unique way of thinking and he would have never made the progress he made in game theory, an area of mathematics applied to economics.