America Quote by Richard Lewontin
“I assume the same problem exists in Australia as in America of back-biting and jealousy and parochialism among disciplines - there are the scientists, and there are the humanities people, and there are chemists and the physicists and everybody snipes at everybody else and inter-disciplinary communication is rare. But it's very precious and necessary.”
About This Quote
A critique of disciplinary silos and rivalry, noting that while competition exists, interdisciplinary collaboration is essential and valuable.
In simple terms: Fields compete, yet need each other.
Key Takeaway
Cross‑disciplinary work is crucial for progress.
Themes
interdisciplinary
academic culture
collaboration
competition
Mood
critical
optimistic
Type
academic commentary
observation
When to use this quote
- research grant proposals
- university curriculum design
- policy advisory panels
Key Concepts
social dynamics of science
knowledge integration
Practical Applications
- Create joint seminars
- Encourage co‑authorship across departments
Questions to Reflect On
- What structural changes could reduce back‑biting among disciplines?
- How can we measure the impact of interdisciplinary projects?