The document traces the emergence and development of social science from the 18th century onward. It began with contributions to the Grand Encyclopedia of Diderot from thinkers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Auguste Comte later coined the terms "social science" and "social physics" to describe the new field. Over subsequent centuries, social science diversified with disciplines like jurisprudence, education, health, economics and more. Key figures like Karl Popper and Talcott Parsons further advanced social sciences in the contemporary period. Quantitative social research methods became prevalent in the late 19th century across Europe and the US.