You know you can't expect to observe the animals without changing anything. It's a scientific impossibility. Of course it is, Malcolm said. That's the greatest single scientific discovery of the twentieth century. You can't study anything without changing it.
In "The Lost World," the dialogue highlights a critical understanding in the field of science regarding observation and interaction with subjects. Malcolm points out that the very act of observing animals impacts their natural behavior, suggesting that the observer inevitably alters the environment they seek to study. This interaction complicates the pursuit of pure observation in scientific research.
This concept is portrayed as a significant insight of the twentieth century, emphasizing that total detachment in scientific observations is unattainable. By recognizing that all observation modifies the observed, the narrative challenges traditional methods of study and invites deeper reflection on the responsibilities of researchers in engaging with their subjects.
