Differences between The Natural and Social Sciences and Their Consequences

Social science has been under the shadow of natural science ever since its birth in early modern Europe. This talk enumerates nine major differences between the natural and social sciences, and points out that the root cause of these differences is the distinctive nature of human beings, i.e., humans not only act upon instincts but also are capable of making strategic choices and justifying their actions by values and ideologies. As I have argued elsewhere, not having a fuller understanding of these differences and their ramifications is often the reason behind many pitfalls of social science inquiry.