[asa] Forensic science & Science

“Forensic science (often shortened to forensics) is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science> to answer questions of interest to a legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or a civil action. Besides its relevance to a legal system, more generally forensics encompasses the accepted scholarly or scientific methodology<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodology> and norms<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_(sociology)> under which the facts<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fact> regarding an event, or an artifact, or some other physical item (such as a corpse) are ascertained as being the case. In that regard the concept is related to the notion of authentication<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authentication>, whereby an interest outside of a legal form exists in determining whether an object is what it purports to be, or is alleged as being.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_science

“Science (from the Latin<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin> scientia, meaning "knowledge") refers to any systematic<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System> knowledge-base or prescriptive practice that is capable of resulting in a prediction or predictable type of outcome. In this sense, science may refer to a highly skilled technique or practice<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praxis_(process)>.[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science#cite_note-0#cite_note-0>

In its more restricted contemporary sense, science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge based on scientific method<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method>, and to the organized body of knowledge gained through such research<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research>.[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science#cite_note-1#cite_note-1>[3]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science#cite_note-Popper-2#cite_note-Popper-2> This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word. Science as discussed in this article is sometimes called experimental science<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experimental_science> to differentiate it from applied science<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applied_science>—the application of scientific research to specific human needs—although the two are often interconnected.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science

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Received on Tue Jul 21 17:37:17 2009