History of science
This needs to be encorporated with History of science and technology.
History of Science
Throughout history, men have tried to understand their world. Sayings such as, "Water runs downhill" are attempts to formulate rules that describe the workings of nature.
From the philosophers of ancient times to the 21st century, science has advanced in fits and starts, bringing mankind an ever-more comprehensive view of the world.
Challenge to orthodoxy
A minor but persistent theme in the history of science has been the poor reception often given to men who espouse ideas contrary to the prevailing orthodoxy. The story of Galileo is a case in point. Other natural philosophers and astronomers, especially in Italy, were loathe to "check" their theories by looking through the newly-invented telescope. Even in modern times, with the near-univeral acceptance of the scientific method and huge research budgets from government, academia and industry, unpopular or offensive ideas are often given short shrift.
There is controversy over what the lesson of the Galileo story is. While some see Galileo's saga as an example of the arrogance of authority, others argue that today's rejection of such ideas can not be directly compared with examples such as Galileo. Theories which do follow the the principles of science closely, as Galileo did, are generally accepted however surprising they may be, whereas ideas that make yet unproven and seemingly unjustified assumptions are termed pseudoscience.
Contribution to knowledge
Be that as it may, after a lapse of time even the most unpopular idea can become the new orthodoxy, if proven satisfactorily. The germ theory of disease has become so prevalent that pasteurization and Listerine are household words, even if Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister are no longer remembered.