Comment author: Desrtopa 04 June 2013 08:59:17PM 0 points [-]

It's folly to suppose that they're not prone at all, but not so foolish to suppose either that their training makes them less biased, or that being less so biased makes people more likely to become scientists.

Comment author: wrongish 04 June 2013 10:44:43PM -1 points [-]

Ever heard the phrase "Science progresses one funeral at time"? Who do you think coined that phrase? Hint: It wasn't trash collectors.

If scientists were really as open-minded and ego free as you claim, they wouldn't spend their lives defending work from their youth.

Comment author: sediment 01 June 2013 01:53:19PM *  14 points [-]

What I have been calling nefarious rhetoric recurs in a rudimentary form also in impromptu discussions. Someone harbors a prejudice or an article of faith or a vested interest, and marshals ever more desperate and threadbare arguments in defense of his position rather than be swayed by reason or face the facts. Even more often, perhaps, the deterrent is just stubbon pride: reluctance to acknowledge error. Unscientific man is beset by a deplorable desire to have been right. The scientist is distinguished by a desire to be right.

— W. V. Quine, An Intermittently Philosophical Dictionary (a whimsical and fun read)

Comment author: wrongish 04 June 2013 08:22:07PM -3 points [-]

Scientists are people too. It's folly to imagine that scientists are less prone to bias and pride than non-scientists.

In response to 9/26 is Petrov Day
Comment author: James_D._Miller 26 September 2008 07:31:27PM 3 points [-]

"Maybe someday, the names of people who decide not to start nuclear wars will be as well known as the name of Britney Spears." should read:

"Maybe someday, the names of people who prevent wars from occurring will be as well known as the names of people who win wars."

Comment author: wrongish 04 June 2013 05:15:18PM 0 points [-]

I think it's safe to say that virtually all major wars are caused by forces too powerful for one single person to make a difference.