Action Quote by Evgeny Morozov
“The great temptation of Big Data is that we can stop worrying about comprehension and focus on preventive action instead. Instead of wasting precious public resources on understanding the 'why' - i.e., exploring the reasons as to why terrorists become terrorists - one can focus on predicting the 'when' so that a timely intervention could be made.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Great Temptation of Big Data", 2013
The author warns that big data can tempt us to skip understanding causes and jump straight to predictive actions, risking superficial solutions.
In simple terms: Big data may lead us to act without understanding why things happen.
Key Takeaway
Seek cause before prediction.
Themes
technology
ethics
policy
risk management
Mood
critical
analytical
cautious
Type
policy
ethical
When to use this quote
- government decision‑making
- security planning
- resource allocation
Key Concepts
data science
terrorism studies
public policy
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the risks of acting without understanding?
- How can we balance prediction with comprehension?
A Different Perspective
Predictive focus can miss root causes, leading to ineffective interventions.
![“To reject solutionism is to transcend the narrow-minded rationalistic mindset that recasts every instance of an efficiency deficit [...] as an obstacle that needs to be overcome.” quote by Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6b0/evgeny-morozov-2995_adversity_to-reject-solutionism-is-to-transcend-th_154423.jpg)
