Agree Quote by Michael Crichton
“Finally, I would remind you to notice where the claim of consensus is invoked. Consensus is invoked only in situations where the science is not solid enough. Nobody says the consensus of scientists agrees that E=mc2. Nobody says the consensus is that the sun is 93 million miles away. It would never occur to anyone to speak that way.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Science and Consensus, 1995
Consensus is used when scientific evidence is uncertain; solid facts like E=mc² don’t need consensus.
In simple terms: Consensus signals uncertainty, not certainty.
Key Takeaway
Question claims of consensus critically.
Themes
science
critical thinking
uncertainty
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- media reporting
- academic research
Key Concepts
scientific consensus
evidence evaluation
public discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- When is consensus a useful guide?
- How to differentiate healthy consensus from dogma?
A Different Perspective
Consensus can be misused to suppress dissent.
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