natural philosophy
Definitions
The philosophical study of nature and the physical universe that was dominant before the development of modern science.
A historical term for the branch of philosophy examining the phenomena of the natural world, which eventually evolved into modern physics and biology.
Examples
Before the emergence of modern science, scholars studied the physical world under the discipline of natural philosophy.
Isaac Newton's seminal work, the Principia, was originally titled Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy.
Synonyms
physical science theoretical physics study of nature natural science