Science and Civilisations (SS161)

Dr. Zafar Rashid

M. Omer Sheikh Monday 31 January, 2000

03020129

Trace the development of the "Scientific Method" by examining relevant contributions by Aristotle, Galileo, Lavoisier and Pasteur.

World had not known science before the time of Aristotle. Contrary to Plato's beliefs, Aristotle firmly believed that though ideas were important, sensory data from the physical world was of far more importance in making judgements and arriving at valid conclusions. His syllogistic method of reasoning was firmly based on this requirement. Undoubtedly his most relevant contribution based on this notion was his careful observation of the biological world around us, and then its classification into different groups such as Blooded and Blood-less animals.

Galileo set the basis for all modern day Physics. Upon learning of a device that could help see further he experimented with the telescope and made outstanding discoveries. But the important part was that he made his observations public and provided his peers with telescopes so that they could verify his observations. In investigating the principles underlying the behaviour of falling bodies, Galileo made contributions for which the world of science is still thankful to him. He was the first to make distinction between quantifiable things (speed, mass etc) and non-quantifiable things (smell, taste etc). He developed the methods of recording experimental results in a fashion that would yield useful insights into phenomenon and through this systematic documentation he was able to derive mathematical relationships for speed, distance and acceleration along with providing brief notations for them.

Antoine Lavoisier played a pivotal role in the development of scientific method in the filed of chemistry. Lavoisier entered into a conflict with Stahl on describing the phenomenon of combustion and the latter was not able to provide evidence for his arguments. It is here that Lavoisier using carefully and meticulously planned experiments used his results to prove Stahl wrong. In the process he developed many ideas fundamental to chemistry today. He started with the idea of quantifying things in his experiments. He conducted his experiments in the 'right manner' that was based on good observations and which gave very reliable results, for example when repeating Boyle's experiments. Lavoisier was a theoretician not an inventor and only repeated experiments conducted by others. But what gave him the edge was that he did not just try to understand ideas but conducted controlled and documented experiments to arrive at conclusions and tirelessly repeating his experiments until he was sure of his results. The careful experiments that called for careful documentation of observations and in the due course he formulated the Chemical Nomenclature. This development was partly due to the fact that because of his careful techniques Lavoisier had been able to identify and come up with the concept of elements, compounds and mixtures.

Louis Pasteur made important contributions in the field of Biology. In trying to understand fermentation, diseases of the silk worms, anthrax, and rabies he developed methods of separating and culturing bacteria. Pasteur's conducted careful and refined experiments to prove to Pouchet that Spontaneous Generation does not take place. His experimental techniques were based on careful observations that naturally gave him accurate results.

Hence we can conclude that the Scientific Method of investigation calls for careful observations and well-planned experiments that are controlled and documented and repeated if necessary. It also calls for the sharing of information and having the courage to reject old ideas and absorbing new ones in face of all opposition.