We all know that science plays an important role in the societies in which we live. Many people believe, however, that our progress depends on two aspects of science. The first of which is the machines, products and systems of applied knowledge that scientists and technologists develop. Through technology, science improves that structure of society and helps man to gain increasing control over his environment. 46){{U}}The second aspect is the application by all members of society from the government official to the ordinary citizen, of the special methods of thought and action that scientists use in their work.{{/U}}
47){{U}}Human beings have distinguished themselves from other animals, and in doing so ensured their survival, by the ability to observe and understand their environment and then either to adapt to that environment or to control and adapt it to their own needs.{{/U}} The process of careful observation, perception of a pattern in the phenomena observed, followed by exploitation of this knowledge, has largely inspired the area of human activity known as "science". 48){{U}}It has also provided the bases for the traditional methodology of science: objective observation and description of some phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis or hypotheses about the events observed and possible relationships among them, the use of these to predict future events, the verification of the hypotheses and, on this basis, the construction of a theory of some area of natural activity.{{/U}}
While this process still underlies most scientific activity, the classic "scientific method" has been criticized from a variety of perspectives. 49){{U}}To begin with, it is apparent that the "objectivity" of science and scientists strictly characterizes only the lowest order of scientific activity—observation, and even here it is doubtful whether anyone can be a truly impartial observer of events.{{/U}} What someone chooses to observe and the way one observes it must, after all, in part be a reflection of experience and of ideas as to what is significant. Consider, for example, the different ways in which an artist and a layman look at a painting and the different reactions they have to the same work.
The construction of hypotheses and theories reflects the scientist's interpretation of what he or she has observed even more clearly than observation. At this stage of the scientific method, an element of subjectivity is inevitably present. This can most easily be seen in the extreme case of scientists of truly creative genius. Galileo, for instance, challenged the scientists (and the church) of his day with his hypothesis that the earth revolved around the sun. A twentieth century example is Watson and Click's discovery of the molecular structure of DNA. 50){{U}}Clearly, science may involve not only careful observation but also a willingness to be creative; this may entail looking beyond existing paradigms governing research in a given area of study.{{/U}}