Alas Quote by Richard Dawkins
“Either it is true that a medicine works or it isn't. It cannot be false in the ordinary sense but true in some alternative sense. If a therapy or treatment is anything more than a placebo, properly conducted double-blind trials, statistically analyzed, will eventually bring it through with flying colours. Many candidates for recognition as orthodox medicines fail the test and are summarily dropped. The alternative label should not (though, alas, it does) provide immunity from the same fate.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, 2006
Scientific claims must be validated by rigorous, blinded, statistical testing; otherwise they are no more credible than placebos.
In simple terms: Only evidence‑based treatments deserve trust.
Key Takeaway
Demand rigorous testing for any therapy.
Themes
science
medicine
skepticism
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- drug approval
- medical research
- patient care
- policy making
Key Concepts
evidence
clinical trials
placebo effect
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance speed and safety in medical innovation?
- What safeguards prevent bias in trials?
A Different Perspective
Rigorous trials are costly and may delay access to potentially helpful treatments.
