Attention Quote by Irving Langmuir
![“[There] are cases where there is no dishonesty involved but where people are tricked into false results by a lack of understanding about what human beings can do to themselves in the way of being led astray by subjective effects, wishful thinking or threshold interactions. These are examples of…” quote by Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/629/irving-langmuir-34598_attention_there-are-cases-where-there-is-no-dishon_1612300.jpg)
“[There] are cases where there is no dishonesty involved but where people are tricked into false results by a lack of understanding about what human beings can do to themselves in the way of being led astray by subjective effects, wishful thinking or threshold interactions. These are examples of pathological science. These are things that attracted a great deal of attention. Usually hundreds of papers have been published upon them. Sometimes they have lasted for fifteen or twenty years and then they gradually die away.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Scientific Lecture, 1950s, Irving Langmuir
People can be misled by wishful thinking and subjective biases, creating false scientific claims that persist until disproved.
In simple terms: Bias can create false science that lasts years.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions and demand rigorous evidence.
Themes
science
bias
critical thinking
skepticism
Mood
cautious
inquisitive
Type
analytical
skeptical
When to use this quote
- research funding decisions
- peer review
- public policy
- education curricula
Key Concepts
psychology
epistemology
methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we guard against wishful thinking in research?
- What mechanisms cause false ideas to persist?
A Different Perspective
If evidence is weak, the claim may still gain traction.
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