Physics (from Greek φυσική "natural" from φύσις "nature") is the field of natural science: the science of the most general laws of nature, of matter, its structure, movement and rules of transformation. The concepts of physics and its laws underlie all natural science. It is an exact science. The term "physics" first appears in the writings of one of the greatest thinkers of antiquity, Aristotle (4th century BC). Originally, the terms "physics" and "philosophy" were synonymous, as both disciplines were based on the desire to explain the laws of the functioning of the universe. However, as a result of the scientific revolution of the 16th century, physics developed into an independent scientific branch.