“It is naïve to suppose that the acceptance of evolution theory depends upon the evidence of a number of so-called "proofs"; it depends rather upon the fact that the evolutionary theory permeates and supports every branch of biological science, much as the notion of the roundness of the earth underlies all geodesy and all cosmological theories on which the shape of the earth has a bearing. Thus antievolutionism is of the same stature as flat-earthism.” FactsEarthNumbersSupportAtheismAcceptanceTheoryDependsEvolutionShapesEvidenceNotionProofBranchesFlatsStatureBiological Science Author:Peter Medawar
“Ask a scientist what he conceives the scientific method to be and he will adopt an expression that is at once solemn and shifty-eyed: solemn, because he feels he ought to declare an opinion; shifty-eyed, because he is wondering how to conceal the fact that he has no opinion to declare.” FeelsFactsAsksWonderOpinionExpressionOughtScientistMethodSolemnScientific Method Book:Induction and intuition in scientific thought Source: Induction and intuition in scientific thought
“Scientific reasoning is a dialogue between the possible and the actual, between proposal and disposal between what might be true, and what is in fact the case.” KindFactsRealityMightScienceCasesDialogueReasoning Author:Peter Medawar
“We cannot point to a single definitive solution of any one of the problems that confront us — political, economic, social or moral, that is, having to do with the conduct of life. We are still beginners, and for that reason may hope to improve. To deride the hope of progress is the ultimate fatuity, the last word in poverty of spirit and meanness of mind. There is no need to be dismayed by the fact that we cannot yet envisage a definitive solution of our problems, a resting-place beyond which we need not try to go.” NeedsTryingMindMayStillsReasonFactsProblemLastsPoliticalSpiritSocialMoralPovertyProgressEconomicSolutionsUltimateLast WordsMeannessBeginnersDismayed Author:Peter Medawar
“A scientist is no more a collector and classifier of facts than a historian is a man who complies and classifies a chronology of the dates of great battles and major discoveries.” MenFactsBattleMajorsDiscoveryScientistHistorianCollectorsChronologyGreat Battle Author:Peter Medawar
“It is ... a sign of the times-though our brothers of physics and chemistry may smile to hear me say so-that biology is now a science in which theories can be devised: theories which lead to predictions and predictions which sometimes turn out to be correct. These facts confirm me in a belief I hold most passionately-that biology is the heir of all the sciences.” MaySometimesFactsScienceTimeTurnsBeliefBrotherTheoryAccountsHearingPhysicsBiologyChemistryPredictionsHeirs Author:Peter Medawar
“The fact that scientists do not consciously practice a formal methodology is very poor evidence that no such methodology exists. It could be said-has been said-that there is a distinctive methodology of science which scientists practice unwittingly, like the chap in Moliere who found that all his life, unknowingly, he had been speaking prose.” Has BeensSaidFactsScienceFoundPoorPracticeEvidenceScientistProseFormalDistinctiveMethodologyChaps Book:Induction and intuition in scientific thought Source: Induction and intuition in scientific thought
