What is (so special about) science?

Reproducible research is all about science, so what is science all about? There is a whole discipline, Philosophy of Science, concerned with answering this question, and most probably, there is neither consensus nor a simple let alone universal answer. A very personal account by one of the greatest scientists may nevertheless help achieve a useful working definition.

If I have seen further, it is by standing on y^e shoulders of giants.Sir Isaak Newton¹⁾

Properly defining the term “science” is notoriously difficult. Nevertheless, some aspects are most probably common sense — and can be deduced from Newton’s statement quoted above:

• Science is based on results previously achieved by others.
• Results should be independent of the scientist.
• Science aims at gaining knowledge about the world surrounding us.
• Results should be independently reproducible.

This immediately reveals scientific research to be a responsible undertaking.