Motive Quote by C.P. Snow
“The scientific process has two motives: one is to understand the natural world, the other is to control it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution, 1959
Science seeks both knowledge and power, driving understanding and practical control of nature.
In simple terms: Science aims to know and to use.
Key Takeaway
Recognize dual motives in research.
Themes
science
power
knowledge
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- research funding
- policy making
- technological development
Key Concepts
epistemology
ethics
technology
Questions to Reflect On
- How should scientists balance discovery with responsibility?
- What limits should be placed on scientific power?
A Different Perspective
Focus on control can overlook ethical implications.
![“The main issue [of the Scientific Revolution] is that the people in the industrialised countries are getting richer, and those in the non-industrialised countries are at best standing still: so the gap between the industrialised countries and the rest is widening every day. On the world scale this…” quote by C.P. Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/df6/c-p-snow-17515_country_the-main-issue-of-the-scientific-revolut_882153.jpg)
