Definition of Science

Science, as defined by the WordWeb dictionary is the study of the physical and natural world using theoretical models and data from experiments or observation. On the other hand, Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines science as knowledge covering general truths of the operation of general laws, esp. as obtained and tested through scientific method [and] concerned with the physical world. A famous German scientist, Wilhelm Ostwald, defined science in these words:

Science is one land, having the ability to accommodate even more people, as more residents gather in it; it is a treasure that is the greater the more it is shared. Because of that, each of us can do his work in his own way, and the common ground does not mean conformity.

In the first sentence, Ostwald mentioned about science as a land which could accommodate more people as more residents gather in it. From these words, I think he is trying to say that the growth of science is directly proportional to the number of people who study about it. When new discoveries are made, the scope of science becomes broader. New branches in science could possibly arise, new innovations in science and technology, and old information which were considered as false or nonexistent could be proved as factual and existent based on new discoveries and experimental results.

Ostwald also mentioned that science is a treasure that becomes greater the more it is shared. In the world of science, a scientist or a researcher doesn't do his work for his own sake. Aside from being discoverers, researchers become reporters of discoveries through scientific journals, lectures etc.. They do this not only to present their findings but to also aid future research and development of what was tested and discovered before.1 Due to this, the value of information increases the more it becomes widespread as it could also lead to further testing and feasibility studies. Based on these, Oswald is referring to this "treasure" as technology. Technology, which is the practical application of scientific findings, aid in the improvement of the quality of life and increases in importance the more it is improved. It aids people in their daily lives whether they use it to communicate, to teach, and for further scientific research.

On the last line, it was stated that ...each of us can do his work in his own way, and the common ground does not mean conformity. Based on the last sentence, I think Oswald is trying to say that there is no one method to be used in doing scientific research which is a contradiction to those who say that scientific method is the only way to test scientific hypotheses.

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1 Grinnell, Frederick. Everyday practice of science: where intuition and passion meet objectivity and logic. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009), 9

Let's first look at the importance of the scientific method. Around 4th Century BC, Aristotle and other people (including scientists) believed that simple organisms could come into being by spontaneous generation. This was the idea that non-living objects can give rise to living organisms. It was common "knowledge" that simple organisms like worms, beetles, and flies could come from dust, mud, rotten meat etc.2

In 1668, an Italian physician named Francesco Redi came up with the hypothesis to disprove the idea of spontaneous generation. He prepared jars with meat inside. There was a jar which was left opened in which in a few days gave rise to maggots. Due to this, he tried to cover the next jar with gauze. Air was allowed to pass through but not the flies so he observed that flies laid eggs on top of the gauze since they cannot pass through. So after careful observation and through the use of the scientific method with the control and experimental groups, he was able to conclude that