Active Quote by Claude Bernard
“Obervation is a passive science, experimentation is an active science.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Introduction to Experimental Medicine, 1865
Observation records what is; experimentation tests what could be.
In simple terms: Observation watches; experimentation tests.
Key Takeaway
Balance both for scientific progress.
Themes
science
methodology
observation
experimentation
Mood
inquisitive
educational
Type
scientific
methodological
When to use this quote
- laboratory work
- field studies
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
philosophy of science
research methods
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you experiment rather than observe?
- How to integrate both approaches?
A Different Perspective
Over-reliance on observation can limit discovery.
![“Philosophers of science constantly discuss theories and representation of reality, but say almost nothing about experiment, technology, or the use of knowledge to alter the world. This is odd, because 'experimental method' used to be just another name for scientific method… I hope [to] initiate a…” quote by Ian Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1bb/ian-hacking-9085_experimental-science_philosophers-of-science-constantly-discu_2595149.jpg)
