My inspiration for phrase 'subjunctive science' came from the book Franciscans and the Elixir of Life by Zachary Matus. #Alchemy
https://twitter.com/DrJamesHannam/status/1629047828365422592
Matus is trying to understand how the Franciscans understood that alchemy 'worked' when the promised effects were conspicuous in their absence. He suggests they privileged the subjunctive over the 'real'. 
In other words, given what they knew about God, how did they suppose nature is supposed to work. That seems to me the basis for much natural philosophy - looking (intentionally or otherwise) at how the world needs to be to support more foundational ethical or religious beliefs.
In short, natural philosophy was getting 'is' from 'ought'.
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