Definition of the word hard science

The term "hard science" emerged in the late 1950s as a contrast to "soft science," a label applied primarily to fields such as sociology, psychology, and anthropology. While soft sciences focused on studying human behavior and social phenomena through qualitative research methods, hard sciences encompassed disciplines like physics, chemistry, and biology that followed a more quantitative and experimental approach. The phrase "hard science" was coined to highlight the perceived objectivity, rigor, and predictability of these fields, which were seen as more empirical and strictly evidential than others. Some argue that the dichotomy between the two terms is overly simplistic and that a more nuanced understanding of science should be promoted, recognizing that all scientific disciplines vary in their methods and levels of uncertainty. Nevertheless, the phrase "hard science" remains popular in everyday language and is often used to denote scientific disciplines associated with technology, industry, and advanced mathematical concepts.