na-adjective
Used in academic or technical contexts to describe something related to the natural sciences, especially physics, chemistry, or medicine. Often contrasts with 工学的 (engineering) or 医学的 (medical).
この現象は理学的な視点から分析する必要がある。
This phenomenon needs to be analyzed from a scientific perspective.
彼は理学的な知識を
He developed a new treatment method using his scientific knowledge.
工学的 refers to engineering or applied science, while 理学的 refers to pure or natural science.
Derived from 理学 (りがく, 'natural science') + 的 (てき, adjectival suffix). The term 理学 historically referred to physics and natural philosophy, and the suffix 的 forms an adjectival noun meaning 'pertaining to natural science'.