Classification – Odd one out (fields of study – humanities/social sciences vs natural science): Which discipline does not belong with the others: Political Science, History, Philosophy, Physics?

Introduction / Context:
The list blends academic disciplines from different broad families. Three are usually placed within the humanities/social sciences. One is a core natural science. Your goal is to select the discipline from a different academic family.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Political Science — social science (study of politics, governance, institutions).
• History — humanities/social science (study of past events, contexts, historiography).
• Philosophy — humanities (study of fundamental questions of existence, knowledge, ethics, logic).
• Physics — natural science (study of matter, energy, and their interactions).

Concept / Approach:
Cluster by the “science family”: humanities/social sciences versus natural/physical sciences. Political Science, History, and Philosophy cluster together as non-natural sciences. Physics is a physical science grounded in empirical experimentation and mathematical modeling, making it the clear outlier.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Tag disciplines: PS/History/Philosophy → humanities/social sciences; Physics → natural science.2) Choose the single member not in the majority cluster: Physics.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider methodological emphasis: quantitative lab experiments and formalized natural laws in Physics vs interpretive/qualitative methods common in the other three.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
They share broader methodological and topical kinship apart from the natural sciences.

Common Pitfalls:
Overanalyzing subfields (e.g., “political science uses statistics”). The family distinction remains humanities/social vs natural sciences.

Final Answer:
Physics