Richard Dawkins (1941) English ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author
The Enemies of Reason (August 2007)
“For his purposes (and mine), scientific medicine is defined as the set of practices which submit themselves to the ordeal of being tested. Alternative medicine is defined as that set of practices which cannot be tested, refuse to be tested, or consistently fail tests. If a healing technique is demonstrated to have curative properties in properly controlled double-blind trials, it ceases to be alternative. It simply, as Diamond explains, becomes medicine. Conversely, if a technique devised by the President of the Royal College of Physicians consistently fails in double-blind trials, it will cease to be a part of 'orthodox' medicine. Whether it will then become 'alternative' will depend upon whether it is adopted by a sufficiently ambitious quack”
there are always sufficiently gullible patients
Foreword to Snake Oil and Other Preoccupations by John Diamond, Vintage, 2001.
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English ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author 1941Related quotes
“So-called alternative medicine either hasn’t been tested or it has failed its tests.”
Richard Dawkins (1941) English ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author
The Enemies of Reason (August 2007)
Context: If any remedy is tested under controlled scientific conditions and proved to be effective, it will cease to be alternative and will simply become medicine. So-called alternative medicine either hasn’t been tested or it has failed its tests.
J. William Fulbright (1905–1995) American politician
p. 25 http://books.google.com/books?id=Td-qAAAAIAAJ&q=%22In+a+democracy+dissent+is+an+act+of+faith+Like+medicine+the+test+of+its+value+is+not+its+taste+but+its+effect%22&pg=PA25#v=onepage <br class="br">The Arrogance of Power (1966)
Eduardo Galeano (1940–2015) Uruguayan writer
As quoted in Mirrors: Stories of Almost Everyone (2009), p. 64
Dara Ó Briain (1972) Irish comedian and television presenter
Dara Ó Briain Talks Funny: Live in London (2008)
Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga
Source: Vorkosigan Saga, Shards of Honor (1986), Chapter 15 (p. 235)
Source: Shards of Honour
Tim Minchin (1975) Australian comedian, actor, singer, songwriter, music composer and musician (from British descend)
"Storm", 2013 https://books.google.ca/books?id=8u9pBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA153&lpg=PA153&dq=%22tim+minchin%22+%22alternative+medicine%22+proved&source=bl&ots=tJIyTK6Fog&sig=i_Iquw3_fYAx-J8AXZd5sT-BfOk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjY_4vx-ebYAhVH_IMKHQnXDJAQ6AEIiAEwEA#v=onepage&q=%22tim%20minchin%22%20%22alternative%20medicine%22%20proved&f=false
“One test of good theory is that it have practical implications.”
Charles Perrow (1925–2019) American sociologist
Source: 1970s, Organizational Analysis: A Sociological View, 1970, p. vii
Context: It is surprising how much discipline is imposed upon theory by requiring that it ‘make a difference’ and provide guidance or useful illumination. I learned long ago from students in professional schools that questions of ‘so what’ or ‘what relevance does this have’ do not signify impatience with theory per se, much less anti-intellectualism, but only impatience with the obvious, general, remote, and vague statements that often parade as social science theory. One test of good theory is that it have practical implications.
“If someone offers to furnish a sure test, ask what the test was which made the sure test sure.”
Henry S. Haskins (1875–1957)
Source: Meditations in Wall Street (1940), p. 120