The Scientist

24 Oct, 2002 500 Science

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the origin of the concept and historical role of the scientist. The word “science” first appeared in the English language in 1340 and ever since its meaning has been in a state of flux. The notion of “the scientist” has had a similarly evolving history. For some, “the scientist” does not truly appear until after the Renaissance, others put its emergence much later than that. When did the words and concepts we recognise today take on their contemporary meaning? How has the role of the scientist, and our understanding of it, changed? Has science always been a rival to religion, or was it once an ally? And how has the scientist been perceived by the wider world - as a modern saint, the “priest of reason”, or as a terrifying and amoral menace - the “mad scientist” of film and literature?

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Guests

  • John Gribbin 6 episodes
    Visiting Fellow in Astronomy, University of Sussex
  • Patricia Fara 17 episodes
    Lecturer on the History and Philosophy of Science, Cambridge University
  • Hugh Pennington No other episodes
    Head of the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Aberdeen

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Programme ID: p00548jq

Episode page: bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00548jq

Auto-category: 509.2 (History of science)

Hello (First sentence from this episode) Hello. The word science first appeared in the English language in 1340, and ever since its meaning has been in a state of flux.