何为科学（一）

何为科学（一）

课程导读

作者简介：
里拉·雷姆森（Ira Remsen 1846—1927），美国化学家、教育家，曾任约翰·霍普金斯大学校长。其主要贡献为发明糖精和创立《美国化学学刊》。

导读：
何为科学？这个问题是否困扰过你？

环顾四周，我们不难发现，身边的一切都有科学的影子，我们离不开的各种屏幕、路上跑的汽车、电器里的电流，还有那些研究科学的人……

我们对科学好像很熟悉，但如果要我们回答“何为科学”，我们可能给不出一个统一的定义。

那到底怎么定义科学呢？我们不妨跟着小胡老师，听听一位科学家的看法。

英文原文

WHAT IS SCIENCE

First, then, what is science? Surely there can be no difficulty in answering this, and yet I fear that, if I should pass through this or any other audience with the question, I should get many different answers.

A certain lady, whom I know better than any other, has told me that, should she ever be permitted to marry a second time, she would not marry a scientific man, because scientific men are so terribly accurate.

I often hear the same general idea expressed, and it is clear that accuracy is one attribute of science according to prevailing opinions.

But accuracy alone is not science.

When we hear a game of baseball or of whist spoken of as thoroughly scientific, I suppose the idea here, too, is that the games are played accurately; that is, to use the technical expression, without errors.

Again, there are those who seem to think that science is something that has been devised by the Evil One for the purpose of undermining religion.

The idea is not so common as it was a few years ago, when the professors of scientific subjects in our colleges were generally objects of suspicion.

The change which has come over the world in this respect within my own memory is simply astounding.

In general terms, an agreement has been reached between those who represent religion and those who represent science.

This agreement is certainly not final, but it gives us a modus vivendi, and the clash of arms is now rarely heard.

Religion now takes into consideration the claims of science, and science recognizes the great fundamental truths of religion.

Each should strengthen the other, and in time, no doubt, each will strengthen the other.