Science as a Cultural Expression

The essays presented here originated as contributions, generally lectures, to a ''Science Precept for Alumni Non-scientists'' sponsored by the Princeton Class of 1943 on June 13-17, 1994. The aim of the precept was to expound the unity of science with general culture in our times a relation of reciprocal support as never before. Accordingly, the discussion sessions were organised into five groups: (1) initial learning processes underlying all the aspects of human culture; (2) trial and error as a source of human knowledge; (3) relation of science to the surrounding society; (4) cultural aspects external to science; and (5) distinctive features of science. In the following the first five articles are taken one each from the categories in the sequence listed above. the last article is an attempt to draw explicit parallels between science and humanities.