This is an interesting historical question, but I’d like to challenge your initial motivation ;) So the idea that sciences used to be pursued more effectively a century ago. Intuitively speaking, I don’t see why this would be the case, so I’d first have to see some evidence (including the measure of effectiveness) for this claim. My impression is rather that due to immense fragmentation of today’s science into sub-disciplines, there are more people working on particular problems who are effective in their own domains, while remaining largely unknown to the wider audience.
In fact, I would link a lower degree of interaction in the past science, in comparison to today’s science (we have peer-review system, there are more conferences, there is an easier access to publications, etc.) with a lower degree of effectiveness. But of course, how exactly interaction and effectiveness/efficiency are related is an empirical question, so I’m open to be surprised :)
This is an interesting historical question, but I’d like to challenge your initial motivation ;) So the idea that sciences used to be pursued more effectively a century ago. Intuitively speaking, I don’t see why this would be the case, so I’d first have to see some evidence (including the measure of effectiveness) for this claim. My impression is rather that due to immense fragmentation of today’s science into sub-disciplines, there are more people working on particular problems who are effective in their own domains, while remaining largely unknown to the wider audience.
In fact, I would link a lower degree of interaction in the past science, in comparison to today’s science (we have peer-review system, there are more conferences, there is an easier access to publications, etc.) with a lower degree of effectiveness. But of course, how exactly interaction and effectiveness/efficiency are related is an empirical question, so I’m open to be surprised :)