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Wednesday, June 9, 2021
Photo source: Wikimedia Commons
P. W. Bridgman (1882-1961) was an American physicist best known for his contributions to thermodynamics and pressure. Wikipedia says,
"[Bridgman's] philosophy of science book The Logic of Modern Physics (1927) advocated operationalism and coined the term operational definition." (Wikipedia: Percy Williams Bridgman, 8.17.21 UTC 01:36)
The rest of this post is some quotes from Bridgman.
"The first business of a man of science is to proclaim the truth as he finds it, and let the world adjust itself as best it can to the new knowledge." (AZQuotes.com)
"...the scientist would maintain that knowledge of itself is wholly good, and that there should be and are methods of dealing with misuses of knowledge by the ruffian or the bully other than by suppressing the knowledge." (AZQuotes.com)
"The attitude which the man in the street unconsciously adopts towards science is capricious and varied. At one moment he scorns the scientist for a highbrow, at another anathematizes him for blasphemously undermining his religion; but at the mention of a name like Edison he falls into a coma of veneration." (Reflections of a Physicist, 1950)