About Quote by Lewis Thomas
“Much of today's public anxiety about science is the apprehension that we may forever be overlooking the whole by an endless, obsessive preoccupation with the parts.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Lives of a Cell” by Lewis Thomas, 1974
People worry about isolated details of science, missing the broader picture of interconnectedness.
In simple terms: Focus on parts, ignore the whole.
Key Takeaway
Seek holistic understanding in science.
Themes
science
anxiety
holism
reductionism
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
essay
scientific
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education curricula
- research funding
Key Concepts
systems thinking
epistemology
public perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we better convey the big picture?
- What role does media play in shaping scientific anxiety?
A Different Perspective
Complex systems can be hard to communicate clearly.
![“As you kind of get over the anxiety about [science and evolution], it actually adds to your sense of awe about this amazing universe that we live in, it doesn't subtract from it at all.” quote by Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/caa/francis-collins-5281_add_as-you-kind-of-get-over-the-anxiety-abou_75250.jpg)
