Advice To A Young ScientistBasic Books, 1 sie 2008 - 416 To those interested in a life in science, Sir Peter Medawar, Nobel laureate, deflates the myths of invincibility, superiority, and genius; instead, he demonstrates it is common sense and an inquiring mind that are essential to the scientist's calling. He deflates the myths surrounding scientists -- invincibility, superiority, and genius; instead, he argues that it is common sense and an inquiring mind that are essential to the makeup of a scientist. He delivers many wry observations on how to choose a research topic, how to get along wih collaborators and older scientists and administrators, how (and how not) to present a scientific paper, and how to cope with culturally "superior" specialists in the arts and humanities. |
Inne wydania - Wyświetl wszystko
Kluczowe wyrazy i wyrażenia
able activities administration advice ambition answer applied arts audience Bacon become believe better bring called cause certainly Chapter colleagues common complete confidence course critical cultural described discovery discussion distinction effect especially evidence example experiment experimental explained fact fall feel give graduate hope human hypothesis ideas imaginative important Institute interest judgment kind knowledge known laboratory laws lectures less living logical London look matter means ment mind mortality natural never observation opinion original perhaps philosophic possible probably problem progress question reason referred remember requires respect Royal rule scientific sense skills Society sometimes successful sure tell things thought tion true truth turned understanding University whole women writing young scientist
Popularne fragmenty
Strona 32 - Prudence and justice are virtues and excellencies of all times and of all places ; we are perpetually moralists, but we are geometricians only by chance. Our intercourse with intellectual nature is necessary; our speculations upon matter are voluntary, and at leisure. Physiological learning is of such rare emergence, that one may know another half his life, without being able to estimate his skill in hydrostatics or astronomy ; but his moral and prudential character immediately appears.
Strona 32 - But the truth is, that the knowledge of external nature, and the sciences which that knowledge requires or includes, are not the great or the frequent business of the human mind. Whether we provide for action or conversation, whether we wish to be useful or pleasing, the first requisite is the religious and moral knowledge of right and wrong; the next is an acquaintance with the history of mankind, and with those examples which may be said to embody truth, and prove by events the reasonableness of...
Strona 47 - If they will persist in condemning all experiments except those which bring with them immediate gain and a present harvest; they may as well cavil at the providence of God that he has not made all the seasons of the year to be times of mowing, reaping and vintage.
Strona 64 - I wish to propose for the reader's favourable consideration a doctrine which may, I fear, appear wildly paradoxical and subversive. The doctrine in question is this: that it is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true.
Strona 19 - ... in much the same way, and for much the same reasons, as other institutional devices limiting competition, such as exclusive patent rights.
Strona 46 - Sprat1] that we are not able to inculcate into the minds of many men, the necessity of that distinction of my Lord Bacon's, that there ought to be Experiments of Light, as well as of Fruit. ... If they will persist in contemning all Experiments, except those...
Strona 45 - Invention is an Heroic thing, and plac'd above the reach of a low, and vulgar Genius. It requires an active, a bold, a nimble, a restless mind: a thousand difficulties must be contemn'd with which a mean heart would be broken: many attempts must be made to no purpose: much Treasure must sometimes be scatter'd without any return: much violence, and vigor of thoughts must attend it: some irregularities, and excesses must be granted it, that would hardly be pardon'd by the severe Rules of Prudence.
Strona 46 - It is stranger that we are not able to inculcate into the minds of many men the necessity of that distinction of my Lord Bacon's, that there ought to be Experiments of Light, as well as of Fruit. It is their usual word, What solid good will come from thence? They are indeed to be commended for being so severe exactors of goodness. And it were to be wished, that they would not only exercise this vigour about Experiments but on their own lives and actions: that they would still question with themselves...
Strona 12 - Any scientist of any age who wants to make important discoveries must study important problems. Dull or piffling problems yield dull or piffling answers. It is not enough that a problem should be interesting...
Strona 46 - Experiments, but on their own lives, and actions: that they would still question with themselves, in all that they do; what solid good will come from thence? But they are to know, that in so large, and so various an Art as this of Experiments, there are many degrees of usefulness: some may serve for real, and plain benefit, without much delight: some for teaching without apparent profit: some for light now, and for use hereafter; some only for ornament, and curiosity.