Scientific research is, in its purest form, a test of a scientist’s passion, patience and self sufficiency, not just when the scientist is researching. In The Great Influenza, John Barry argues that to be a true scientist, one must be prepared to make a commitment to their work and the courage to face the uncertainty of the outcome. Through the use of metaphors and rhetorical questions, John Barry discusses his view on scientific research. No matter how much someone believes in something the fact of the matter is we cannot always be correct. Barry argues that in order to be a good scientist, one must work not only to prove their theories to others, but also to themselves. It is easy for one to get caught up in the belief that they are absolutely correct despite any reasonable proof. The fact of the matter is, everything that a scientist works towards can be destroyed by a single finding. Barry explains that even Albert Einstein doubted his theories until his ideas were tested. Barry also uses rhetorical questions to get the reader involved in the thought process of an ideal scientist. His ideal view of a scientist is one that has the patience and determination to find out the best path to their solution. Barry asks a series of questions such as “A shovel can dig up dirt but cannot penetrate rock. Would a pick be best?” “Would analyzing the water be better?” “How would one analyze it?” in order to put the reader in the shoes of a scientist using their own intelligence and ability to reason in order to develop answers to their questions. Although he does not expect the reader to answer these questions, they are an important part of the essays overall message. John Barry views scientific research as mostly guess work. In order to bring out the truth within uncertainty, one must have the patience and intelligence to find a solution that works, and the courage to face the fact that maybe, after all the time spent working on it, they may be completely incorrect. It is the fact that they doubted their beliefs that bring out the true meaning behind scientific research. |