William Whewell

William Whewell (1794-1866) was an English philosopher and historian of science known for his contributions to scientific methodology and the philosophy of science. He introduced the term "scientist" and emphasized the importance of both inductive reasoning (drawing general conclusions from specific observations) and deductive reasoning (applying general principles to specific cases). Whewell argued that science progresses through a combination of theory and observation, where theories guide investigations, and observations refine theories. His ideas have influenced fields like biology, where understanding the relationship between theory and empirical data is crucial for scientific advancement.