How to understand the sentence?

[o_cat]

The process of careful observation, perception of a pattern in the phenomena observed, followed by exploitation of this knowledge, has largely inspired the area of human activity known as "science".

Thank you!

[oldman2]

Not sure if I am qualified to answer it, but this sentence seems to try to define what is science and the development or the structure of it---

The first step of the process begins with "careful observation" which is "perception of a pattern in the phenomena observed" because according to the structure of the sentence, "careful observation" = "perception of a pattern in the phenomena observed" (meaning observe in order to find the pattern of things)

Then the second step ('cause it says the first step is "followed by" this) in the process is "exploitation (meaning the full development) of this knowledge (knowledge referring to the pattern found by observation)"

These two steps of the process make up one area of the human activity we call "science."

Simply put, it's--> observation + exploitation = science

[Casiopea]

The process of careful observation, perception of a pattern in the phenomena observed, followed by exploitation of this knowledge, has largely inspired the area of human activity known as "science".

Thank you!

I agree with OM2. Observe how something works; look for its function and distribution, and then use the information you've gathered to see if it's true for other things.

The process of careful observation (or more clearly stated: perception of a pattern in the phenomena observed) followed by exploitation of this knowledge, has largely inspired the area of human activity known as "science".