1) (philosophy) Scientific knowledge; a principled system of understanding; sometimes contrasted with empiricism. 2) (specifically Ancient Greek philosophy) know-how; compare techne. 3) (specifically Foucaultian philosophy) The fundamental body of ideas and collective presuppositions that defines the nature and sets the bounds of what is accepted as true knowledge in a given epistemic epoch
好，有了這些鋪墊，我們再來看相應的漢語翻譯：科學 vs 格物，儘管科學一詞是東洋人首先使用的。“科”字的本意，是“品類、等級”或者“法式;規制 (norms/rules)”的意思，所以“科學”一詞，單看字面意思，基本上就是“將(知識)分類”的學問，或者關於“規則”的學問。
如果說古希臘時代 philosophy 更像個和智慧、知識體系有關的“名詞”的話，那麼 science 一詞從中世紀歐洲到現在，則更像一個“動詞”：most often refers to a way of pursuing knowledge, not only the knowledge itself (refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science，儘管這不必強求成為共識)。從這個意義而言，“格物致知”也是個更好的翻譯。
剛從網上抄來一段關於亞里士多德的科學貢獻中的classfication的地位： In his effort to develop a strong taxonomic scheme, he noticed important similarities and differences between various zoological forms. He arranged these upon a basis of increasing perfection, extending from lower to higher animals. In its way, this was a theory of evolution.4 He also developed a coherent theory of generation, believing that the mammalian egg was formed in the uterus as a result of the activation of menstrual blood by male semen.3 “Sex” he wrote “is determined by the male principle already contained in the semen. If this is not strong enough, then the opposite must necessarily come into existence, and the opposite of man is woman.”
