(1) What is the nature of the scientific attitude, the attitude ofthe man or woman who studies and applies physics, biology, chemistry, geology,engineering, medicine or any other science?
(2) We all know that science plays an important role in thesocieties in which we live. Many people believe, however, that our progressdepends on two different aspects of science. The first of these is theapplication of the machines, products and systems of applied knowledge that scientistsand technologists develop. Through technology, science improves the structureof society and helps man to gain increasing control over his environment.
(3) The second aspect is the application by all members of societyof the special methods of thought and action that scientists use in their work.
(4) What are these special methods of thinking and acting? First ofall, it seems that a successful scientist is full of curiosity - he wants tofind out how and why the universe works. He usually directs his attentiontowards problems which he notices have no satisfactory explanation, and his curiositymakes him look for underlying relationships even if the data available seem tobe unconnected. Moreover, he thinks he can improve the existing conditions andenjoys trying to solve the problems which this involves.
(5) He is a good observer, accurate, patient and objective andapplies logical thought to the observations he makes. He utilizes the facts heobserves to the fullest extent. For example, trained observers obtain a verylarge amount of information about a star mainly from the accurate analysis ofthe simple lines that appear in a spectrum.
(6) He is skeptical - he does not accept statements which are notbased on the most complete evidence available - and therefore rejects authorityas the sole basis for truth. Scientists always check statements and makeexperiments carefully and objectively to verify them.
(7) Furthermore, he is not only critical of the work of others, butalso of his own, since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientificinstruments and that a number of factors tend to disturb objectiveinvestigation.
(8) Lastly, he is highly imaginative since he often has to look forrelationships in data which are not only complex but also frequentlyincomplete. Furthermore, he needs imagination if he wants to make hypotheses ofhow processes work and how events take place.
(9) These seem to be some of the ways in which a successfulscientist or technologist thinks and acts.
