Observation is either an activity of a living being, such as a human, consisting of receiving knowledge of the outside world through the senses, or the recording of data using scientific instruments. The term may also refer to any data collected during this activity.
Read more about Observation: Observation in Science, Observational Paradoxes, Biases, Observations in Philosophy
Famous quotes containing the word observation:
“Laws and customs may be creative of vice; and should be therefore perpetually under process of observation and correction: but laws and customs cannot be creative of virtue: they may encourage and help to preserve it; but they cannot originate it.”
—Harriet Martineau (1802–1876)
“I should say that the most prominent scientific men of our country, and perhaps of this age, are either serving the arts and not pure science, or are performing faithful but quite subordinate labors in particular departments. They make no steady and systematic approaches to the central fact.... There is wanting constant and accurate observation with enough of theory to direct and discipline it. But, above all, there is wanting genius.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“There is no better proof of a man’s being truly good than his desiring to be constantly under the observation of good men.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)