Scientific methodology: A view from early string theory

This contribution is devoted to addressing the question as to whether the methodology followed in building/assessing string theory can be considered scientific – in the same sense, say, that the methodology followed in building/ assessing the Standard Model of particle physics is scientific – by focussing on the ”founding” period of the theory. Its aim is to argue for a positive answer to the above question in the light of a historical analysis of the early developments of the string theoretical framework.