(A) Perseverance in carrying out scientific investigations.
(B) Creativity in coming up with big problems to be investigated and breaking them down into
smaller 'solvable' parts.
(C) Scepticism towards non-scientific beliefs.
(D) Commitment towards cultural preservation.
Understanding Scientific Temper Attributes
Scientific temper refers to a mindset that involves rationality, critical thinking, and reliance on empirical evidence when approaching problems or understanding the world. It emphasizes logic, objectivity, and a willingness to question and test ideas.
Attribute (A): Perseverance in Scientific Investigations
Perseverance is crucial in any scientific endeavor. Scientific investigations often involve challenges, setbacks, and complex processes. A person with a scientific temper demonstrates persistence to overcome these hurdles, gather sufficient data, and follow the investigation through to a logical conclusion. This dedication is a fundamental aspect of the scientific process.
Attribute (B): Creativity and Problem Decomposition
Creativity plays a vital role in scientific temper, particularly in identifying important questions and formulating hypotheses. Furthermore, the ability to break down large, complex problems into smaller, more manageable, and 'solvable' parts is a key analytical skill. This structured approach, combining imaginative thinking with logical dissection, is characteristic of scientific thinking.
Attribute (C): Skepticism Towards Non-Scientific Beliefs
A core component of scientific temper is skepticism. This means questioning claims, especially those lacking empirical evidence or logical reasoning. While not dismissive, a scientific temper involves critically evaluating beliefs, particularly those outside the realm of established scientific understanding, and seeking evidence-based explanations.
Attribute (D): Commitment Towards Cultural Preservation
Commitment towards cultural preservation, while a valuable societal goal, is not a defining attribute of 'scientific temper'. Scientific temper is primarily concerned with the method and attitude towards inquiry and knowledge acquisition. Cultural preservation falls under different domains, such as sociology, anthropology, or history, and does not necessarily require or define a scientific mindset.
Conclusion on Attributes
Based on the analysis, attributes (A) Perseverance, (B) Creativity in problem-solving, and (C) Skepticism towards non-scientific beliefs are direct characteristics associated with a scientific temper. Attribute (D) is related to cultural values rather than the scientific way of thinking.
Important Questions from Nature and Structure of Science
Under which organisation's aided project did NCERT develop an instructional material titled "Science is Doing"?
In which year did E. L. Thorndike develop the theory of trial and error learning?
What involves two cell divisions during which the chromosome number is halved?
In which stage, science should be introduced as separate disciplines with emphasis on experiments / technology and problem solving?
- Read the excerpt given below and answer the question.
French scientist Henri Becquerel was working on phosphorescent materials, which glow in the
dark after exposure to light. He believed that sunlight was the reason that the crystal would burn
its image on a photographic plate. On a stormy day in $1896$, he decided to leave it for few days
and resume his experiments later. A few days later, he took his crystal out of a darkened drawer.
He noticed that the image burned on the plate was 'fogged' which meant that the crystal had still
emitted rays, despite the lack of sunlight.
What does the above excerpt illustrate about science ?
