Science as Imaginative Projection.

Each science begins from an imaginative projection of beings as a whole and stakes its claim to a specific region of beings. The projection of the World is always Self-overreaching. This projection may be philosophical as mathematical, as in the case of the 'modern' natural sciences, or as experiential as in Aristotle, or in some other manner. Only to the degree that science is projected philosophically does it amount to more than a collection of sundry techniques.

The metaphysical projection of the 'universe' originated in the notion of the 'true', constantly present and unchanging nature of a reality that underlay all appearances. As part of the Reformation, this 'true' world as universe became limited to mathematical projection only. This move was neither scientific nor philosophical, but religio-political in nature.


The initial projection is not simply the milieu in which specific theories within the sciences appear, but determines the 'facts' that dispute with or corroborate those theories. Such 'facts' remain appearances interpreted already within an explicit or implicit projection of beings as a whole. The circularity of theory creation and data interpretation is founded on the imaginative projection.

In terms of the mathematical projection, physics is posited as the basic science. However the initial projection, itself conceptual, is driven by the conceptual development of tools through technology. Rather than driving technology, 'modern' natural science is inherently an accounting-for beings (facts as technologically interpreted) in the manner and mode in which they have already been revealed and made to appear by technology. Thus the actual base science within the modern period is and continues to be accounting as accounting-for.

In the sense that physics and chemistry maintain explanatory power in their accounting-for specific results can be judged within the bounds of the metaphysical projection, reduced as it is to a projection of measurability only.

Taxonomic empirical studies such as zoology are based solely on the classificatory nature of technological enframing. On the basis of accounting-for they appear as mere inventory-counting.

Studies such as archaeology and anthropology amount to no more than an imaginative form of tourism unless they are utilized as techniques within the science of history.