Science, scientists and literature: The role of literature in promoting science and technology

Abstract

Innovative ideas and technological advances in science and technology have been reflected by numerous well-known and representative literary works. This was first witnessed at the beginning of the nineteenth century, a time marked by the most notorious social impact of scientific activity. Here, we show how the debate between science and humanities is unproductive. The mutual influence of these two ways of thinking shows that they are equally human and have constantly influenced each other, and even more so today. In this article we discuss countless examples of novels and stories influenced by new scientific ideas, and also some cases where literary creativity has coined some highly original scientific vocabulary.