Fundamental science

Fundamental science is the part of science that describes the most basic objects, forces, relations between them and laws governing them, such that all other phenomena may be in principle derived from them, following the logic of scientific reductionism. There is a difference between fundamental or pure science and practical science; sometimes called by the two phrases pure science and applied science. Pure science, in contrast to applied science, is defined as a basic knowledge it develops. Basic science is the heart of all discoveries, and progress is based on well controlled experiments. Pure science is dependent upon deductions from demonstrated truths, or is studied without regard to practical applications.

In medicine

Pure sciences of medicine include e.g. anatomy and histology. Preclinical research is research in medical pure science, which precedes the clinical trials, and is almost purely based on theory and animal experiments.

External articles

Citations and notesFurther reading

• Henry James Clarke, The fundamental science 1885.

See also

• Exact science
• Fundamental research
• Hard science