most important science

[mollykins]

out of the three main science; biology, chemsitry and physics, which is the most important?

I had a dream last night where I agrued with my chemistry teacher (who in the dream and real life has a phd in chemistry) And he was saying that everythin in the universe is made from atoms, which is chemistry. But i was saaying that physics is the most important because all the chemicals and atoms have to obey the laws of physics. But because he has a phd in chemisry, he was having non of it, but i woke up before one us of gave in.

Do yuo agree that physics is the most important science? If you think about it, biology is dependant on chimcal reactions, but those chemical reaction have to obey the laws of physics, meaning without phyics, you can't have the other two sciences?

[mollykins]

1) he's not a professor yet, although he is the best science teacher in the school by far, and will be my chemsitry teacher next year.

2) it was a dream in reality he might agree that although chemistry is his favourite, physics is most important.

[theprof]

I'm sorry to say that despite having D.Phil, Phd two DSc's and a fellowship of a regal society with the usual collection of Masters and Batchelors degrees along the way, I can't provide a definitive answer for the question. The fact that these degrees are in chemistry, biological sciences and biochemistry provides me with a dubious advantage over other posters.

By and large, I think the question is unanswerable as you can debate it until the cows come home and not really make any progress.

The reason I say this is that this question came up in an Oxford Union Thursday Debate a few years back and the outcome was inconclusive - I know because I was one of those who addressed the audience in the debating chamber along with some very eminent scientists. I well remember the very thought provoking and ground-breaking views given by a very famous logician that evening. Ultimately, the whole debate went nowhere.

I'm afraid that given the reputation of the Oxford Union, if they can't come to a conclusion there's little chance anyone else will come up with a flawless answer.

[mollykins]

ahhh, but was it about which is the most important to people or the most fundermental? so which science did you say was the most important?

[theprof]

I like your way of thinking mollykins! I said it was chemistry and I still consider it to be chemistry nowadays. Don't ask me to give you the reasons why I consider it to be chemistry - I'm fairly certain I have heard virtually all the ones in favour of physics, biology and mathematics over the years and they don't quite come up to scratch to my mind.

[Garmard]

The essential ingredients in our known universe are time and space, therefore physics is more important.

[Buenchico]

As a former A-level Maths teacher, I'd like to point out that Mathematics is the purest (and most important) form of science, as well as the purest form of art.

The three sciences you refer to really only exist as distinct areas within the school curriculum. At higher levels of study the subject barriers start to break down. However, if you're determined to rank one area of study above the others, perhaps Physics should take the lead. Most of the key axioms of science (such as Newton's Laws, the Laws of Thermodynamics and Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity) are physical laws which apply across all areas of science.

Chris

[mibn2cweus]

Need I remind you, this is a philosophical discussion debating a philosophical question. Philosophy invented science, informing and improving the methods of all branches of science, which begs the question . . . "Is philosophy a science?" Properly and successfully engaged, it should be and must be for the love of wisdom is the heartbeat of acquiring, accumulating, organising and applying knowledge useful to human progress and ultimately the essential means for determining exactly what that is. Without us and it working together to derive the mutual benefits this relationship brings to the survival and enhancement of both, the universe and all that is in it would be rendered meaningless.