Abstract
I.FOR several weeks various opinions have been expressed in our correspondence columns as to the desirability or otherwise of using the word scientist to designate in a generic sense any one actively engaged in the advancement of natural knowledge by in vestigation. The term is not an Americanism, as is often supposed, but was introduced by Dr. Whewell in 1840'' to describe a cultivator of science in general."In a letter published in NATURE of November 29, Dr. Norman Campbell pleaded for approval of the word, and asked objectors to suggest a single substitute for it if they were not willing to adopt it. We invited opinions upon the question from a number of dis tinguished representatives of letters as well as of science, and have published some of the replies with which they have favoured us. The general attitude of scientific workers was clearly stated by Sir Ray Lankester in our issue of December 6; and it is one of dislike. Literary authorities, on the other hand, are prepared to give the word a legitimate place in the English language, and they point to many similar hybrids which have been admitted into our vocabulary without question.
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Words, Meanings, and Styles. Nature 115, 253–255 (1925). https://doi.org/10.1038/115253a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/115253a0