p The purpose of scientific cognition is to ascertain the inner nature, the essence of objects and phenomena, and the laws governing their functions and development. But essence and laws do not lie on the surface of phenomena. In order to discover them a range of means and methods of scientific cognition have been elaborated in the course of the long and complex development of science and practice. These means and methods are of universal significance and 171 can be applied in all sciences investigating the most diverse phenomena of reality.

What are the means and methods of scientific cognition?