Apart from Aristotle, few have ventured to provide a formal definition of science. With that being said, Richard Watkins, PhD presents perhaps the most compelling definition of science since Aristotle’s.
The Watkins Definition of Science: The pursuit, acquisition, dissemination, and application of novel knowledge.
At the core of this definition lies “Novel Knowledge,” which refers to fresh observations, insights, or understandings not previously known to any institution or individual. The concept of novel knowledge serves as the cornerstone for categorizing something as “Science.”
From here, it is crucial to differentiate research from science, where research is a component within the broader scope of science. The frequent interchangeability of “science” and “research” often poses challenges when defining both terms and their practitioners without encountering contradictions. It is important to note that not all research is science. Only research that aims at or results in the generation of novel knowledge is part of science.
The pursuit of novel knowledge, encompassing research and activities aimed at comprehending the unknown, is a fundamental aspect of science. This aspect is where most people halt their understanding of science. It is also the aspect in which you would find many elements present in Francis Bacon’s scientific method.
Moving forward, he comes to the acquisition of novel knowledge. This simply refers to the data, whether qualitative or quantitative, generated as a result of the pursuit of novel knowledge. Interpreting acquired data involves reviewing it in the context of previously collected information. This is the point where the data is determined to lead to a novel insight or discovery, hence constituting novel knowledge. It is important to note that data itself is not intrinsically novel or familiar; it is raw information derived from measurement or observation, qualitative or quantitative.
Dissemination stands as another crucial aspect of science. It involves sharing findings acquired from the pursuit of novel knowledge with others. Dissemination is an essential step in validating the quality of findings and their classification as novel knowledge. Sharing novel knowledge also enables others to build upon and repeat these findings.
Lastly, the application of novel knowledge in developing innovative approaches, techniques, products, and services is perhaps the most significant aspect of science for society. Additionally, the application of novel knowledge involves using that knowledge to further pursue more novel knowledge. Furthermore, the dissemination and application of novel knowledge in many regards are two of the most critical aspects of science. For if a finding is neither disseminated nor applied, then it is not knowledge and thus outside the realm of science.
Science forms an unending cycle, encompassing the pursuit, acquisition, dissemination, and application of novel knowledge. The very essence of “Science” is inextricably intertwined with “Novel Knowledge”. For science, and all of its practitioners, are propelled by the singular force that is the “Unknown.”
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