Lessons of Science

There are various lessons to be learned about past scientist and inventions from different periods in history. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) lived around a time where his world was ruled by the church. Galileo made a huge step in science by collecting invaluable data to the advancement of the heliocentric system, proving that Ptolemy’s theory of the geocentric system was wrong, and that in-fact the Earth is NOT at the center of the universe. Although Galileo knew that his theory and evidence was correct, the church did not support his ideas and sent him on trial for heresy. He was told to give up on his ideas and research; he stopped promoting the heliocentric system but continued collecting research. Galileo’s lesson is about sacrifice; he gave something up in order to continue living and making contributions for the world of science. If Galileo would have chosen to disobey the church, he would have been killed instead of being on house arrest. So Galileo’s lesson is about sacrifice; to give up on something in order for the better of something else, in this case his promotion for the heliocentric system for future studies and collecting new data.

There is another lesson to be learned about from past scientists. Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1742) is considered to be one of the greatest who ever lived. Newton is responsible for discovering and establishing the laws of motion (forces), the explanation of gravity, developing the mathematical field of calculus (rate of change – flux), and the first to try to explain light (what is it?). You would think that Newton was born to be exactly was he was, a brilliant scientist, but you would be wrong. In fact, in Sir Isaac’s early years of Grammar School he was described as lazy and inattentive, not the characteristics of a great scientist. Fortunately, his uncle recognized his scholarly talents and eventually made it to the University of Cambridge. There is a lesson to be learned from Newton, which is “you can not judge a book by its cover”. In the beginning of his academic years he didn’t seem to show little promise in academic work and then later became one of the greatest scientists of all time. Sir Isaac Newton’s story shows that sometimes it isn’t about where you begin or how you begin, but where you ended up and how you finish. Sometimes you just need that little “push” or form of motivation, which in Newton’s case was his uncle.

The last lesson to be discussed about science comes from the period of time referred to as the “Industrial Revolution”. As time and science progressed so did technology, and the need for better and more efficient work methods. The beginning of the “Industrial Revolution” began with the invention of the steam engine. It was originally meant to be used for pumping out water from mines, but later developed to become a train engine. Unlike, past scientist though, the inventors of the steam engine did not produce their work for the advancement of technology and science, but to make money out of it, and industry; an organized economic activity connected with the production, manufacture, or construction of a particular product or range of products, in this case engines. So, the lessoned to be learned from this point in time is that as time progresses and things change so do peoples motives and ways of thinking. People don’t only do things for the better of the people, but to better themselves.