Science and Experiment

Abstract

The chapter analyses procedural aspects of experimentation that are commonly considered as “subjective” or “contingent” and ignored because they seem to be inconsistent with the claim to authority of scientific action. Based on a description of experimentation as a type of open exploration of the world, the role of the principles of uncertainty and serendipity in producing epistemic things is discussed . The chapter shows how the unexpected emergence of something new in the history of science mostly takes place between the poles of technical and epistemic chance. It locates the aesthetic moment of experimentation precisely in the combination of complexity and manageability of limited, but nevertheless multi-layered systems. For instance, an experimental system would not—as is often stated—be perceived as beautiful or aesthetic because it is “simple”, but because it hovers “on a borderline”. Its structure is repetitive but also holds surprises.

The present text was translated by Michael Wilson. It is a slightly modified version of a lecture given under the title “Wissenschaft und Experiment” and published in: Anne von der Heiden and Nina Zschocke (eds.) (2012) Autorität des Wissens. Kunst- und Wissenschaftsgeschichte im Dialog, Zurich, pp. 123–133. See also Rheinberger (2006a).