Blog 16

Albert Einstein mentions that if you are able to have foundational principles, then anyone with the proper equipment and adequate intelligence should be able to form mathematical conclusions. This notion seems very similar to how hypotheses are used to form scientific conclusions. As quoted on page 221 in Ideas and Opinions, by Albert Einstein, “The scientist has to worm these general principles out of nature by perceiving in comprehensive complexes of empirical facts certain general features which permit of precise formulation.” This quote explains how nature is what scientists use to formulate their hypotheses, and that these hypotheses combine empirical facts, along with experimental results, to form conclusions about the natural world. Furthermore, the book mentions that you need principles to base a deduction. Similarly, you need to have a hypothesis to make conclusions about your research. Without a hypothesis, the empirical facts are of no use to a scientist.

In the section titled, Principles of Research, I like how Einstein explains the different types of scientists. From my understanding, he believes that truly remarkable scientists are the ones that use science as an escape from their personal life. I believe that the curiosity, which fuels their drive to find truths about the world, is what causes the scientist to experience this idea of escaping from their life. They get lost in the science, and substitute their livelihood for gained scientific knowledge. When a scientist makes discoveries, this is what gives emotional meaning to their life.

The connection between language and thinking was interesting to read. I have experienced times when I know the concepts at hand, but struggle to find the right words to explain them. With that being said, science tries to avoid these pitfalls by creating a language that is international. There is a quote on page 337 that states “…scientific concepts and scientific language…have transformed the life of mankind in the last centuries.” By forming concepts, scientists can discover truths about the natural world, and progress science as a whole. Scientists need to have a “passionate striving for clear understanding” in order to build off of previous research. I believe that the scientific method and the empirical facts are what lead to this international language that scientists share.