Final answer:
The sciences in the Western world are mainly categorized into natural sciences, which include life and physical sciences, and social sciences, which study human behaviors and societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Western world, the sciences are commonly sorted into two broad categories: natural sciences and social sciences. Natural sciences are typically divided further into the life sciences, which include disciplines like biology, and physical sciences, which encompass areas such as physics, chemistry, and astronomy. Life sciences focus on living organisms, while physical sciences deal with nonliving matter. Natural sciences are also sometimes referred to as "hard sciences" because of their reliance on quantitative data. In contrast, social sciences study human society and behaviors and often use qualitative assessments. Examples of social sciences are psychology, sociology, and economics. Despite their differences, both types of sciences aim to expand our understanding of the universe, utilizing the scientific method and logical reasoning through inductive and deductive approaches. Interdisciplinary sciences, such as biophysics and biochemistry, draw upon both life and physical sciences, demonstrating the interconnectedness of different scientific disciplines.