Birth of The Scientist

Famous early scientists, like Leonardo da Vinci, would not have called themselves scientists, or practiced science as we do today.   They were then more commonly called ‘natural philosophers,’ and based their work on observing the natural world, then inferring principles.   Until Sir Isaac Newton, and his colleague Sir Francis Bacon, moved to standardize the scientific method.   They wanted proof; knowledge based on evidence, not speculation.   So they argued that scientists should put forth a hypothesis, often an if-then statement: “If this happens, then that will be the result.”   Then, they should create an experiment to prove or disprove the hypothesis.   Data from the experiment should be collected, as objectively as possible. Then published, so that peers could review and challenge the work.   Only after standing up to this process, they argued, could science be credible.  Their peers recognized the value of this scientific method, and, through the 1700s, it was refined and widely adopted.   But it wasn’t until 1834 when William Whewell proposed calling those working in science ‘scientists,’ borrowing from the word ‘artist,’ to emphasize the creativity required.   It took a few decades, but the term ‘scientist’ stuck. And the scientific method certainly did too – and has transformed and advanced evidence-based science ever since.   I’m Dr. Scott Tinker, and I’m a scientist.