5 



The Scientist 



and the Engineer 



Everyone knows that there is a close relationship 

 between the progress of science and progress in the prac- 

 tical arts. In the case of engineering and medicine, the 

 relationship is so close as to lead to some confusion in 

 regard to the real roles of the practitioner and the scientist. 

 We shall discuss this matter in terms of the engineer, but 

 much of what will be said would apply equally well to the 

 physician. 



Unfortunately, it is very difficult to discuss the difference 

 between two things without implying in some way that one 

 is better than the other. It is not the intent of this chapter 

 to make invidious distinctions of this sort. In fact, I would 

 prefer to avoid discussing the subject at all were it not for 

 the possibiHty that the student who does not realize that 

 differences do exist may find himself going to the wrong 

 school and expecting the wrong sort of satisfactions in later 

 Ufe. 



The most significant difference between the scientist and 

 the engineer lies in their respective attitudes or styles of 

 life. It is not a matter of intellectual capacity; the first-class 

 engineer is no dumber or brighter than the first-class scien- 

 tist. He may well be just as imaginative and just as "crea- 



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