Achieve Quote by Anthony Standen
“If this "critical openminded attitude" ... is wanted, the question at once arises, Is it science that should be studied in order to achieve it? Why not study law? A judge has to do everything that a scientist is exhorted to do in the way of withholding judgment until all the facts are in, and then judging impartially on the merits of the case as well as he can. ... Why not a course in Sherlock Holmes? The detectives, or at least the detective-story writers, join with the scientists in excoriating "dogmatic prejudice, lying, falsification of facts, and data, and willful fallacious reasoning."”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Science and the Law, 1975
He argues that scientific skepticism and impartial judgment belong to law as much as science, suggesting interdisciplinary training.
In simple terms: Science‑like judgment belongs in law.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate critical, evidence‑based thinking across fields.
Themes
critical thinking
law
science
interdisciplinary
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- legal education
- scientific training
- policy analysis
- research ethics
Key Concepts
epistemology
judgment
logic
methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- Can law adopt scientific rigor without losing justice?
- What training best balances objectivity and empathy?
A Different Perspective
Legal decisions also involve values and emotions beyond pure data.
