从某种意义上说,科学史现在是很时兴的。据本刊最近一次调查表明,读者不论其国家为何均要求更多刊登科学史领域的文章,即使这个领域处于科学所关心问题的边缘并且往往带有哲学倾向。大众科学出版界的编辑们懂得如何利用读者对历史的强烈热情,特別是当文章涉及技术性较强的现代科学时,他们总以新闻所特有的报道方式介绍给读者,这样,有关科学家的篇章及其读者数量剧增,从而使最初多少心存忧虑的出版商感到欣慰。然而,科学史并非不解自明的。人们对其作用、地位、价值、甚至其本身之可行性,意见之纷歧是大相径庭的。有些专家表现出不满,把它归咎于中等教育缺少这一科目的讲授,别的人对一种圣徒传记的调子抱有疑虑,他们认为这种理想化的调门仍为今天科学活动的叙述特征,还有某些人感到惋惜的是,科学史不具有更多社会问题的内容,再有人还 In a sense, the history of science is now very fashionable. According to a recent survey by our magazine, readers, regardless of their country, are required to publish more articles in the field of science history, even though this area is often marginal and often philosophical. Editors of the popular science press know how to avail themselves of the reader's passion for history, especially when the article deals with highly technical modern science, and they are always introduced to the reader in a news-specific format. In this way, the relevant chapters of the scientists and The surge in readership has pleased many publishers who were initially worried. However, the history of science is not self-evident. People have very different opinions about their role, status, value, and even their own feasibility. Some experts have shown dissatisfaction attributing it to the lack of secondary education in this subject while others have misgivings about the tone of a saint's biography, which they regard as the narrative feature of today's scientific activity , And some people feel sorry that the history of science does not have more social issues,