Ogólne zasady metody pracy naukowej w świetle refleksji Claude Bernarda

Abstract

The conditions pointed out by Cl. Bernard as indispensable in experimental research work refer not only to Natural sciences but, because of their general value, they may be applied to any kind of scientific work and in humanistic research as well. These conditions result from the meditations of the famous physiologist over the investigative efforts in his own speciality. These conditions amount to four: 1) the necessity to prepare the psychic attitude of the investigator by giving up all customary habits of thinking, 2) the objective establishment of facto based on observation and experiment, 3) the application of methodic doubt and 4) the application of efforts in order to reach an ever increasing precision of observation in the face of perceptible deviations from formerly established rules acting in the material under observation. These conditions result, on the ground of deduction, from one basic principle, namely from the postulate of recognition of any scientific fact in a most objective manner. Objectiveness in scientific work cannot coexist with the directing of scientific thinking in a one-sided manner by submitting it to egocentric tendencies. Objectiveness requires loyalty in the face of facts and this can be achieved not only by a direct comming into contact with the source but also by its proper interpretation through precise reasoning based on the laws of logic. Science is made up only of those facts that were properly and accurately interpreted in the context of a permanent dialogue between the world of observed phenomena or of established facts and the hypothesis which, in turn, is also confronted with the new facts. By means of this confrontation of investigative thought with facts we bring to perfection our scientific laboratory which can then carry out its task contributing to the most exact comprehension of the world surrounding us.