Why is economics a social science but not a pure science?

Answer 1

Economics is the study of man and his activities in relation to his environment. The study of ends and scarce means which studies alternative uses. from the little i know, economics is a social science because it studies human environment, there is no specific(physical) laboratory. if we want to test anything concerning with economics, then we survey and taking primary and secondary data and analyze the things and it is carried out on the society. thus, society is the laboratory for any test of the subjects concerning with economics.

Most subjects in the sciences have a constant/specific way of carrying out their activities. For instance, to test the pH level of a matter requires a particular method, unlike in economics where the issue of unemployment solved in China differs from the way it will be addressed in Nigeria. Economics deals with the study of the environment in diverse ways, hence it is a social science.

Answer 2

Science is a process of formulating models that predict outcomes in a natural system under certain conditions, and then testing them to see if the future predictions agree. However, the goal is to find how the model is inadequately representing the natural system. When the model is refuted, it is adjusted to form a new model from what is learned about the system. Since there is an underlying system that is being approximated by the models, there is an "objective reality" (exists independently of human conceptualization) to be described by conceptual models. The models evolve representations of the relationships and features that are defined by the system. Models are useful to humans. Models are respected when they better reflect the nature of the system.

On the other hand economics is an artifact of human imagination, and the agreement among certain humans who "play the games" together -- thereby it is a social technology. There is no underlying physical reality other than what is identified by the players to be components. Granted, the interactions within the system may be complex, and the economic properties are determined by what people study. Nevertheless, in the economics properties are determined by and limited only by the beliefs of the "players." To build economic models one must assume certain features, and the models become part of the generation of the results. Since they are not inherently tied to the physical and biological realities, they may fail arbitrarily as the physical and biological world view of humans change -- or as people believe the physical and biological world exists. Economics in large part reflects human belief systems. When physical and biological constraints become seriously constrained for humans, economics becomes irrelevant. The game ends.

Dick Richardson (1/28/2001)

Answer 3

Economics is social science beacause its specifically deal with evaluation

of economic matters such as nation income,investment,per capital icome;and total evaluation of resolution of economics problems that is current existing also what is ought to be done rather than prediction

Answer 4

It studies (and relates) to people's behaviours in different markets - what choices they make, how they spend their money, where they get money and the like. That makes economics a social study and not an abstract asocial study, like physics for example. It is also an empirical study.

Answer 5

Economics is a social science because it is a study of human behavior. Human behavior cannot be explained by physical law, so it's not a hard "science" such as medicine.

Answer 6

economics are products of societies

Answer 7

because it is diffrent to others