Fræðin

Fræðin is the Icelandic term for science and scholarly disciplines. The word stems from Old Norse fræði, meaning knowledge or learning. In modern Icelandic, fræðin refers both to the body of organized knowledge and to the systematic study of that knowledge across academic fields. The term is often used to distinguish scholarly disciplines from everyday knowledge or practical crafts and is a common umbrella in educational policy and higher education.

Fræðin encompasses natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Examples of fields commonly described as fræði include mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and geology; social sciences such as economics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political science; and humanities such as history, linguistics, and philosophy. The suffix '-fræði' is widely used in Icelandic to denote a field of study, but the exact composition of the category can vary by institution and context.

Institutions in Iceland support fræði through universities, research institutes, and funding bodies. The University of Iceland and other higher education institutions organize faculties and departments that offer degrees in fræði, while national research councils fund projects across disciplines. The term also appears in cultural and educational discussions as a description of systematic inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake and for societal application.

Historically, fræði has been central to preserving language, literature, and law, as well as advancing natural and social understanding in Iceland. Today, it remains a core concept in education and research, shaping curricula, scholarly publishing, and public policy.