Today, Louis Pasteur is widely credited, and rightly so, with the discoveries which led to successfully treating many diseases. Many revere him as a hero in helping businesses, countries, and especially for his work in saving lives. However, his credibility as a scientist has been brought under intense scrutiny. …show more content…
Geison, The Private Science of Louis Pasteur, 1995, portrays the scientist as an egotistical showman, and at one point a fraud. The allegations leveled at Pasteur include using discoveries made by others and passing them off as his own, falsely reporting his efforts, and withholding information critical of his theories. …show more content…
Yet, at least among a few, the controversy continues. From his earlier detractors, such as Robert Koch, a well-known 19th century physician who was a scientific pioneer in his own right, to Gerald L. Geison, a modern researcher and author. While I am among those who celebrate the achievements of Louis Pasteur, I learned somewhat of his character and scientific