Where does the idea of crazy evil scientists come from?

[Gesundheit2]

Like Frankenstein for example. Any insights into this?

[Lila9]

This image is very old and hard to tell, but I think that it has heavily strengthen from the world war II with nazi scientists like Dr. Mengle who made unethical and questionable experiments on humans. 

[Ulax]

Nazi doctors and the WW2 Japanese doctors probably didn't help quell the stereotype

[Osaid]

Quote

The mad scientist figure appears in Gothic fiction after the Romantic period, reflecting Victorian society's fascination with science and their fear that scientific knowledge would lead to the destruction of society and morality. The roots of the mad scientist are surprisingly ancient. He is most closely descended from the kabbalists and alchemists of the middle ages; even in the Faust legend, writers had begun to develop the notion that any intrusion into the area of universal knowledge was an unholy act; condemned by the church just as much as black magic, performing autopsies, or challenging the purposes of the divine.

https://epublications.marquette.edu/gothic_madscientist/#:~:text=The mad scientist figure appears,destruction of society and morality.

[Gesundheit2]

6 hours ago, Lila9 said:

This image is very old and hard to tell, but I think that it has heavily strengthen from the world war II with nazi scientists like Dr. Mengle who made unethical and questionable experiments on humans. 

I guessed the same, WW2 certainly played a role in solidifying this idea. Interesting how relative everything can be. Scientists are currently considered amongst the most noble humans.

[Gesundheit2]

6 hours ago, Ulax said:

Nazi doctors and the WW2 Japanese doctors probably didn't help quell the stereotype

Yeah, they did some terrible stuff. I've also heard that the USA did or does similar experiments at least in the field of psychology.

[Gesundheit2]

5 hours ago, Osaid said:

Quote

The mad scientist figure appears in Gothic fiction after the Romantic period, reflecting Victorian society's fascination with science and their fear that scientific knowledge would lead to the destruction of society and morality. The roots of the mad scientist are surprisingly ancient. He is most closely descended from the kabbalists and alchemists of the middle ages; even in the Faust legend, writers had begun to develop the notion that any intrusion into the area of universal knowledge was an unholy act; condemned by the church just as much as black magic, performing autopsies, or challenging the purposes of the divine.

https://epublications.marquette.edu/gothic_madscientist/#:~:text=The mad scientist figure appears,destruction of society and morality.

This is super interesting! The battle between religion/conservatives and science/liberals is ages old. Scientists were hunted and killed for committing the sin of experimenting. Everything we don't know is sacred and we're not supposed to look or question anything. What an interesting turn of events that we're experiencing, haha!

Edited March 28, 2023 by Gesundheit2