Cancer cure Quote by Nikolai Krementsov
““Furthermore, once created, a cultural resource generates public debates whose forms, tones, and terms differ considerably from those used by scientists involved in the production of the scientific knowledge that gave birth to this resource. The arguments used in scientific disputes (logic, verifiability, controlled experiment, disciplinary consensus, technical apparatus, negotiated and agreed upon standards of measurement and presentation, and so on) lose their convincing power and are replaced by such 'social' arguments as economic utility, political expediency, ideological conformity, traditional authority, and cultural affinity. A cultural resource acquires a life of its own, evolving in accord with its own environment (of which science per se constitutes only a small part). The transformation of scientific knowledge into a cultural resource thus undermines scientists' control over their 'products' and its applications. It opens the scientific discipline from which this cultural resource emerged to invasion by 'outsiders' - whether competing disciplinary groups or politicians - eroding its professional autonomy, disciplinary boundaries, and established scientific cultures. Yet it also helps set the agendas of future research and recruit new generations of practitioners by firing up people's imaginations with fantastic tales of scientific pursuits, be it a search for a cancer cure or a quest for immortality.””
About This Quote
Source Article: “The Cultural Life of Scientific Knowledge”, 2018
When scientific discoveries become cultural artifacts, their meaning shifts from technical arguments to social values, reducing scientists’ control over their use.
In simple terms: Science becomes culture, losing technical control.
Recognize how science is reshaped by society.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- science communication
- policy making
- public debates
- media coverage
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can scientists maintain relevance without losing influence?
- What safeguards protect scientific integrity?
Scientific rigor may be diluted; social arguments can be misused for agendas.