SCIENCES AND SCIENCE

Abstract

This paper point out the problem of how much it is currently meaningful to distinguish between natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. The following questions will be raised: What is the difference between the humanities and the social sciences? Is it possible to keep a sharp demarcation between the humanities and the natural sciences and their methods? What justifies a system of statements to call itself “science”? Is “quantitative death” a necessary fate of the humanities, or is it on the contrary possible – in addition to hi-tech successful natural sciences – to consider humanities as an indispensable know-how for the survival of human society? Answers to these questions will be based on Max Weber’s definition of the social sciences, classical hermeneutic’s demand for autonomy of the methods of the humanities, Hans-Georg Gadamer’s universal hermeneutic, neopositivists’ scientist proposal, and finally on Hans Albert’s solution of the problem of value neutrality of science.