SCIENTISTS 



we do ourselves. It is a great pity for a young scientist who is 

 naturally the speculative type to come under the influence of a 

 systematic type and be misguided into believing that his imagina- 

 tion should be suppressed to the extent that it is crushed. The 

 man who gets ideas of his own and wants to try them out is 

 more likely to be attracted by research, to contribute more to it, 

 and to get more from it than the man lacking in imagination and 

 curiosity. The latter can do useful work on research but probably 

 does not get much enjoyment out of it. Both types are necessary 

 for the advancement of science for they tend to be comple- 

 mentary. 



As is mentioned elsewhere, it is a common error among 

 philosophers and writers of books on the scientific method to 

 believe that discoveries are made by the systematic accumulation 

 of data until the generalisation is a matter of plain logic, whereas 

 in fact this is true in probably a minority of cases. 



The scientific life 



Some comment on the personal aspects of research might be 

 helpful to the young man or woman contemplating taking up a 

 scientific career. 



The young scientist on reading this book might be alarmed at 

 the demands made on him and, unless he is one of those rare 

 individuals who is willing to give his whole life to "a cause", he 

 may be put off research if some further comment is not offered. 

 Let me reassure him at once that this is a counsel of perfection 

 and one can become a good research worker without sacrificing 

 all other interests in life. If one is willing to regard research as 

 a calling and to become what Einstein calls a tiTie devotee, all to 

 the good, but there are plenty of examples of great and successful 

 scientists who have not only lived normal family lives but have 

 managed also to find time for many outside interests. Until recent 

 times research was carried on only by the devotees, because the 

 material rewards were so poor, but nowadays research has 

 become a regular profession. However, it cannot be conducted 

 successfully on a strict 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. basis and some evening 

 study is a practical necessity. One needs to have a real interest in 

 science and it must be part of one's life and looked upon as a 

 pleasure and a hobby. 



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