For scholarship - if it is to be scholarship - requires, in addition to liberty, that the truth take precedence over all sectarian interests, including self-interest.
John PolanyiRead
When, as we must often do, we fear science, we really fear ourselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Fear of science reflects a deeper fear of our own potential and understanding.
This quote suggests that when we experience apprehension or fear towards science, it is not merely the subject of science itself that we are afraid of; rather, it is an indication of our own insecurities and unwillingness to confront our own capabilities and complexities as human beings. Science represents a pursuit of knowledge that can illuminate our understanding of the world and ourselves, and fearing it may be a reflection of an internal struggle with change and responsibility.
Themes
ScienceFearUnderstandingSelfKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
During a keynote speech at a science fair where students showcase their projects.
More from John Polanyi
All quotes βOur assessment of socio-economic worth is largely a sham. We scientists should not lend ourselves to it - though we routinely do. We should, instead, insist on applying the criterion of quality.
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If we treasure our own experience and regard it as real, we must also treasure other people's experience.
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It is this, at its most basic, that makes science a humane pursuit; it acknowledges the commonality of people's experience.
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