Is how the essence of science?

[kx000]

Does how best describe what science is. For example, how did the universe begin, or how are thoughts come to be.

Science is how.

 

[C C]

Science also deals in the inventory, cataloging, and classification of things, events, illnesses, organisms, celestial bodies, patterns of motion / behavior, etc, found in the cosmos (facts). Predictions via established understandings, too -- utilizing the "how it works" knowledge; and diagnoses. Not everything is about explanation; or devising plans for interrogating nature and formulating testable hypotheses; or pursuing further experimental bolstering of accepted theories and useful models.

Since the time when natural philosophy departed from being under the wing of philosophy in general, during the late 18th and 19th centuries, and fully appropriated the term "science" for itself... Philosophy has sort of developed into special branches where it is the study of other fields of study / research / practice / skill (including the physical sciences). Even in former eras it played that role with the human endeavors of logic, metaphysics, ethics, etc; but the latter disciplines were often regarded as subdivisions of philosophy itself, and so there was not today's clarity of philosophy being distinct from many of the targets it studies.

 

[Waiter_2001]

I believe science deals with ANY question: who, what, when, where, why and how. Telescopes deal with where.

 

[Raithere]

Does how best describe what science is. For example, how did the universe begin, or how are thoughts come to be.

Science is how.

If you had to boil science down to a single question, it would be "what".

Empirical, systematic, observation is the essence of science. What happened? Is the essential question.