Is Rick Sanchez fromRick andMortythe future of science ? The Adult Swim animated cartoon , which keep an eye on the risky venture of alcohol-dependent frantic scientist Rick and his anxiousness - ridden grandson Morty , is far from donnish . But a late video from the PBS Idea Channel takes a semi - serious spirit at the relationship between the show and the modern scientific method .
But maybe that anarchical attack to skill is exactly what the discipline needs . So argues Rugnetta , citing philosopher Paul Feyerabend ’s bookAgainst Method . Feyerabend , who specializes in the philosophy of science , reason that the innovative scientific method has become overly rigid . Too often , scientists are encouraged to specialize in one narrowly - determine theme , and discouraged from considering the style in which their discipline may overlap with others . Moreover , he argues , while the scientific method — which involves " making observation , ask questions , formulating hypothesis , making predictions , testing against those predictions , gathering data , and develop theories"—undeniably provides a utilitarian fabric for the pursuit of cognition , it should be a guideline for enquiry , not needfully the linguistic rule .
fundamentally , Feyerabend argues that science should be more anarchical . Scientists should be free to draw inspiration from multiple disciplines , from their own life and interests , to pursue whatever line of inquiry they want . Which , if you think about it , is exactly what Rick does . His inventions are created in response to his own need and sake , whether he wants to pause time to clean up after a particularly messy house party , or steal cable idiot box programming from alternate dimension . Rugnetta notes that Feyerabend ’s views on scientific methodology are controversial , and by no mean defend by all — or most — scientist . So whether you think Rick is a scientific role model or just a funny fictional crackpot may reckon on your opinions on the scientific method acting . Nevertheless , Feyerabend might agree with Rick when he read , " Sometimes skill is more nontextual matter than skill . ”
