Believing Quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson
““Other unrelenting skeptics might declare that “seeing is believing”—an approach to life that works well in many endeavors, including mechanical engineering, fishing, and perhaps dating. It’s also good, apparently, for residents of Missouri. But it doesn’t make for good science. Science is not just about seeing, it’s about measuring, preferably with something that’s not your own eyes, which are inextricably conjoined with the baggage of your brain. That baggage is more often than not a satchel of preconceived ideas, post-conceived notions, and outright bias.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public talk on scientific method, 2019
Science relies on objective measurement, not just personal perception, because human senses are biased by prior beliefs
In simple terms: Science needs measurable evidence, not just what we see
Prioritize data over intuition in research
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Laboratory work
- engineering design
- policy making
- education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you test your assumptions?
- What tools help reduce observational bias?
Bias can be mitigated but never fully removed