By scientific knowledge is understood the process of identifying the objective laws of the surrounding reality through scientific methods. It is customary to distinguish between empirical and theoretical levels of scientific knowledge.
Empirical knowledge is a direct, “living” study of reality through observation, comparison, experiment and measurement of objects and phenomena of the world.
It is believed that the classification of facts is empirical knowledge, but working with materials obtained empirically belongs to the field of theoretical knowledge. This level of knowledge is indirect, different methodology and terminological apparatus used. It uses abstract categories and logical constructions.
The empirical and theoretical levels of cognition are inseparable. Scientific knowledge cannot be only theoretical or only empirical in the same way as it is impossible to roll a wheel using only one hemisphere.
Thus, it is empirically possible to study the physical and chemical properties of specific objects that exist in the real world: for example, several rock fragments. In the course of comparison, observation, experiments, and in the process of applying other methods of empirical knowledge, it may turn out that the properties of these fragments are identical. In this case, at the theoretical level, it is possible to put forward a hypothesis, according to which, any rock having the whole complex of predetermined features will have similar physical and chemical properties. To confirm this hypothesis, it is necessary to again turn to empirical methods and choose for the experiment other fragments of rocks that have given signs. If they discover the same properties, the hypothesis is considered confirmed and gets the right to be called a law, which will be formulated theoretically.
Of particular specificity is the theoretical and empirical knowledge of social phenomena. The difficulty lies in identifying the signs and properties of the object under study, because social phenomena have a nature that is radically different from the nature of objects of the exact sciences. To identify the patterns of social phenomena, it is necessary to study the history of events significant for the studied phenomenon and the reaction of the studied group. For example, members of a society in which there is no private property dissatisfied with the activities of the authorities can start a revolutionary movement. It would seem that the violent method of changing power is a natural reaction to state arbitrariness, but, having in their possession even a minimum of goods necessary for survival, the same citizens will be afraid of losing them during the coup, which means they will be prone to revolution to a much lesser extent. Thus, the theoretical and empirical knowledge of social phenomena is often much more complicated than the study of phenomena related to the exact sciences.
Scientific knowledge is necessary for the study of the world. Using the methodology that makes up these levels allows you to derive patterns and predict events, and makes a person’s life safer and happier.
