Argument Quote by Carl Sagan
“Arguments from authority carry little weight – authorities have made mistakes in the past. They will do so again in the future. Perhaps a better way to say it is that in science there are no authorities; at most, there are experts.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Cosmos, 1980
Scientific authority is limited; experts can err, so evidence and inquiry matter most.
In simple terms: Science values evidence over authority.
Key Takeaway
Rely on data, not titles.
Themes
science
authority
critical thinking
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research
- policy making
- education
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Epistemology
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate expert claims?
- When should authority be trusted?
A Different Perspective
Experts still provide valuable guidance.
![“[All good research scientists understand that] no position is unassailable. There are no absolute truth in science. Authority counts for nothing when contradicted by nature.” quote by Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9da/brian-cox-8883_absolute-truth_all-good-research-scientists-understand_1936188.jpg)
![“[I shall not] discuss scientific method, but rather the methods of scientists. We proceed by common sense and ingenuity. There are no rules, only the principles of integrity and objectivity, with a complete rejection of all authority except that of fact.” quote by Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fbf/joel-henry-hildebrand-36715_authority_i-shall-not-discuss-scientific-method-bu_1442028.jpg)
![“[ When a religious couple wrote to Sagan about fulfilled prophecies, he wrote back in May 1996 :] If ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is your criterion, why do you not believe in materialistic science, which has an unparalleled record of fulfilled prophecy? Consider, for example, eclipses.” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/875/carl-sagan-160_belief_when-a-religious-couple-wrote-to-sagan-a_25095.jpg)
