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Science (科学 Kagaku?) is a general term used to refer to any entity, like persons or technology, that has roots in science and scientific knowledge. Science dwells primarily in rational thinking and the study of the natural world, but also extends to the applications of advances in technology in a number of fields. Academy City, for example, is well-known for its Power Curriculum Program which allows normal people to develop supernatural abilities.
In Toaru Majutsu no Index, the term is frequently used to refer to Academy City and its affiliates, and is interchangeable with the term Science Side (科学
Etymology[]
The English term science derives from the Latin scientia (meaning "knowledge, awareness, understanding"), sciens ("knowing") and/or sciō/scīre ("to know"), and has been used in the sense of "the state of knowing" since the 14th century in Middle English. In the past, in keeping with its origin, science was used as a synonym for "knowledge" or "study", with one conducting scientific research called a "man of science" or a "natural philosopher". The term scientist was created in the early half of the 19th century, with science coming to acquire its current meanings.[1] The Japanese term kagaku (科学) had been previously used to refer to a collection of various studies. When the word science was first introduced to Japan in the Meiji era, it was identified as a collection of academic disciplines and translated as such, resulting in the connection between the two terms.[2]
The names of many fields of science in English are ultimately derived from Latin and ancient Greek, beginning in a prefix relating to the nature of the field and ending in the suffix -logy, from Ancient Greek -logia (-logía/-λογία). Specialists in fields of these names are typically referred to be a term consisting of the field's prefix and the suffix -logist (e.g. a scientist specializing in biology is a biologist). Similarly in Japanese, the names of many fields end in the suffix -gaku (学, roughly relating to "study/learning"), with associated specialists ending in suffix -gakusha (学者, roughly "one who studies/scholar/academic" etc)(e.g. like biology and biologist, seibutsugaku and seibutsugakusha).[1][2]
Principles[]
Science is primary centered around experimenting with and observing phenomena to understand the natural world. This practice is common around the world, but can start at an earlier age in Academy City, with students who study in specialized academic institutions being able to develop and present their research with teachers and older members of the academy. Nunotaba Shinobu is one such case as the developer of the Testament machines at a young age.
Scientific knowledge is often applied in technology (技術 Gijutsu?), the term referring to both the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and reproducible manner and the products of that work. Similarly, technology is often used for the purposes of obtaining and advancing scientific knowledge.
Most of the time, the methods used in scientific research conform to standards in practice at the present. There are experiments, however, which tread on the rules of ethics in scientific practice like cloning (see Sisters Project and Chemicaloid Project) and human experimentation (see Dark May Project). Regardless, most of these projects are approved and even funded by Academy City, allowing partial or full access to facilities like the supercomputer Tree Diagram to hasten its progress if deemed necessary. On the other hand, even if a project receives a lack of support from Academy City, resources are still within reach, although the options to acquire these resource often involve shady tactics like hostile takeovers or using the influence of persons of authority.[3] This condoning of inhuman and immoral practices creates a culture of laxity towards this issue amongst the entire academe, causing most scientists to develop an inhumane outlook on any living things as long as it is needed in an experiment.[4]
In spite of the issues with unethical standards among the scientific community, science remains positively accepted in human society due to its aid in the development of various aspects of the world, as do in Academy City, where a majority are left uninformed of the more sinister workings of science in general.
Esper development[]
- Main article: Esper
- Main article: Power Curriculum Program
One unique aspect of science is its focus on developing psychic abilities, which aims to replicate the existence of people born with supernatural abilities called Gemstones through various methods. These abilities are one of the most prominent features of the Science side and is often used to identify members of the Science side the same way magicians represent the Magic side.
Academy City is one of the very few entities which are successful in this field, and it later created the Power Curriculum Program to integrate psychic ability development into the standard academic curriculum. This program, combined with the exposure of students to various medical and non-medical procedures, aims to unlock a person's potential in using supernatural abilities, and is usually the first step in becoming an esper. Academy City itself is largely composed of students, and those who have undergone the Power Curriculum Program are classified based on their Level, from 0 to 5.
The Power Curriculum Program is centered on various concepts, some of which explain the origins and effects of esper abilities. Both Personal Reality and quantum mechanics explain how espers can cause changes based on one's will, like creating a flame from nothing (Pyrokinesis) or traveling from one place to another instantaneously (Teleport). Espers who develop their Personal Reality manifest a field of energy around them called An Involuntary Movement (AIM), which is often used to identify that esper's Personal Reality and in research involving the interactions of AIM between espers.
Other countries such as the United States and the Soviet Union have tried and failed to create their own espers. Because of the desire to create their own espers, some of the countries and other factions lacking knowledge in how to create espers have resorted to kidnapping Gemstones in order to find out how espers can be made and in turn create their own. According to Kumokawa Seria, however, even if these organizations acquired a gemstone and experimented on them, they would still be unable to create their own espers.[5]
In the story's first year, Academy City is not only still the only place that can make espers but has all the known Gemstones of the world as well after rescuing them.[6] This is the reason aspiring students (such as Saten Ruiko) go to the city for the purpose of gaining these esper powers.
Organizations[]
Science-based organizations in Academy City consist of groups that may or may not be involved with espers or esper development. Most of these organizations specialize in scientific research, with only a few that deal with psychic abilities. There are also organizations that are known to few, engaging in inhuman acts like human experimentation and assassinations. These organizations are often gathered under one term, the Dark Side of Academy City, and often move in secret.
Background[]
The history of contemporary science in general can be traced to thousands of years back, to when major civilizations, from the Middle East and Mesopotamia to Greece and the Roman Empire, formulate their own theories on various disciplines. However, it was during the Renaissance period, with the Copernican Revolution ushering the scientific revolution, that modern science as we know it flourished, allowing further development of the different branches of study.
During the latter half of the 20th century, a man named Aleister Crowley, himself a magician who fled from the realm of magic, and with the help of the man who saved his life, a doctor named Heaven Canceller, established an independent territory within the island country of Japan.[7] This territory, later to be known as Academy City, gradually became the world's forerunner in scientific research, creating technologies 20[8] or 30[9] years ahead of its time.
List of Scientific Fields[]
This section lists some of the fields, branches, disciplines and other sub-divisions of science which have been featured or referenced in the series. It should be noted that many areas of these fields overlap with one another.
| Name | Type | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archaeology (考古学 Kōkogaku?) |
Social Science | The scientific study of past human activity, through the recovery and analysis of the remains of material culture. | It should be noted that although the field of paleontology (the study of prehistoric life, often through fossils) is sometimes brought up along with the term archaeology in and out of story,[10] the two are technically different fields. |
| Astronomy (天文学 Tenmongaku?) |
Natural Science | The scientific study of celestial objects and phenomena. |
The term astronomy is derived from the Ancient Greek astronomía (ἀστρονομία, roughly 'study of the laws of the stars'). A scientist specializing in astronomy is known as an astronomer. In the past, the field was also referred to by the term astrology (derived from astrologia/ἀστρολογία, approximately 'study of the stars'), but nowadays that term has come to refer to the more magical and occult equivalent (particularly divination using the stars). |
| Biology (生物学 Seibutsugaku?) |
Natural Science | The scientific study of life. | |
| Chemistry (化学 Kagaku?)[Notes 1] |
Natural Science | The scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. | A scientist specializing in chemistry is known as a chemist. |
| Mathematics (数学 Sūgaku?) |
Formal Science | An area of knowledge involving numbers, quantities, shapes and formulas, as well as their changes and calculations involving them, sometimes classified as formal science and vital in many areas of science, with many subdisciplines. | A specialist across the broad fields of mathematics is known as a mathematician. |
| Meteorology (気象学 Kishō-gaku?) |
Natural Science | A branch of the atmospheric sciences, focusing on the study of the weather and forecasting. | |
| Natural Science (自然科学 Shizen Kagaku?)[Notes 2][11] |
Natural Science | A branch of science involving studies of the natural world and its laws. | |
| Physics (物理学 Butsurigaku?) |
Natural Science | The scientific study of the nature and properties of matter, forces and energy, and their interactions in space and time. | A scientist specializing in physics is known as a physicist. |
| Psychology (心理学 Shinri-gaku?) |
Social Science | The scientific study of mind and behavior. | |
| Social Science (社会科学 Shakai Kagaku?) |
Social Science | A branch of science involving the studies of societies, as well as the relationships and interactions of individuals within societies. Formerly just referring to sociology, the term now covers many more academic disciplines. | |
List of Technologies[]
This section lists scientific technology seen in the series which does not originate exclusively in Academy City, as a tabled list for that technology is already assembled in a separate section on a subpage of Academy City's article, and this is the prime location for listing the non-Academy City technology. For Academy City technology, see here.
Types of Technology[]
This section lists some of the types and fields of technology and engineering which have been featured or referenced in the series. It should be noted that many areas of these fields overlap with one another.
| Name | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Information Technology (情報技術 Jōhō Gijutsu?) |
IT for short, information technology is a modern field of technology and branch of computer science involving the use of computers to create, store, access, process and transfer data and information. The term is sometimes used to refer to the extended field of information and communications technology (情報通信技術 Jōhō Tsūshin Gijutsu?)(ICT for short), which it forms a part of. IT is commonly used as a synonym for computers, computer systems (hardware, software and peripheral equipment) and computer networks (such as the Internet), though it also covers other forms of information distribution, such as telephones and television. The term IT company is often used in an overlapping sense with regards to major electronic technology companies. | |
| Nuclear Technology | Technology pertaining to the applications of nuclear physics and reactions of atomic nuclei, the most notable being nuclear reactors (for power generation) and nuclear weapons. | |
General Examples[]
| Name | Type | Field(s) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence | |||
| Computer (コンピュータ Konpyūta?) |
A programmable machine which can automatically perform arithmetic and logical operations (computations), often capable of processing, storing and retrieving large amounts of data quickly. Used extensively in modern life, they have a wide variety of applications and come in various different types. The term supercomputer (スーパーコンピュータ Sūpākonpyūta?) is used to describe a computer with level of performance greatly exceeding that of a standard general-purpose computer. The term neurocomputer (ニューロコンピュータ Nyūrokonpyūta?) describes computers with a structure based of the human brain and/or neural network(s). | ||
| Drone | A type of unmanned craft, either remotely controlled or operating autonomously. Also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or aerial drones), unmanned underwater vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles, etc depending on their type. | ||
| Mass Driver | A type of electromagnetic catapult for accelerating and launching payloads at high speed, capable of reaching space. | ||
Specific Examples[]
| Name | Type | Field(s) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
External Links[]
Notes[]
- ↑ It is noted that the usual Japanese terms for science (科学 Kagaku?) and chemistry (化学 Kagaku?) are homophones, sounding the same but written differently.
- ↑ The same kanji for Natural Science is also used for Academy City's Hard Science (Hs) designation.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Science (Wikipedia article)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Science (Japanese Wikipedia article)
- ↑ Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Episode 21
- ↑ Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 020
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume SS2 Chapter 11
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume SS2 Chapter 19
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 13 Epilogue
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 01 Chapter 1 Part 4
- ↑ Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 001
- ↑ Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 137
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 20 Prologue