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BOTANICAL HISTORY 



Andrew Denny Rodger s III 



The study of the history of science is the study of the evolution of a branch 

 of scientific learning and the cultural influences surrounding its development. 

 Its basis must be factual, particularly with reference to events occurring 

 within a given period or periods; and its foundation includes elaborations 

 of principles, concepts, and ideas promulgated as of that time, more especially 

 those sustaining survival value and on which subsequent scientific history has 

 been predicated. A student of the history of science does not argue the validity 

 or invalidity of points of view though their origins, enlargements or refine- 

 ments, modifications, and modern contributive worth should be recognized 

 and in instances considered fully. Foremost the historian's function is that of 

 the exposition of facts and their interpretation in the light of later knowledge. 

 The historian, in this author's opinion, should remain primarily a historian, 

 however much the duty devolves of understanding and comprehending the 

 full significance of the scientific subject matter organized and described. But 

 he should refrain from exscinding, discussing, affirming, or denying any or 

 all current scientific truth embodied. That is the scientist's function, and al- 

 though the historian must adhere to rules of scientific objectivity and im- 

 partiality withal, he should first differentiate with as much clarity of thought 

 as possible that subject matter which has become history and that which still 

 belongs to the domain of current science still under investigation. 



In other words, the scientific historian is a fact finder and expositor of facts 

 of and from the past, those data reasonably settled and part of the science's 

 fairly well-established structure. As in other realms of human activity, the 

 historian takes up where men and women have completed an era of activity 

 and accomplishment or where one scientist or a group of scientists has brought 

 to consummation an outstanding investigation or event worthy of permanent 

 recognition. The historian builds an edifice with materials supplied by the 

 scientist. He must not be greedy and overstep his bounds, and for his work 

 he should await such time as scientists are in reasonably definite agreement 



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