Quote:
Originally Posted by MSD
Science is a process through which data are gathered and analyzed to find whether or not hypotheses are empirically verifiable. There is no headquarters, science is not a shadowy cabal of sinister men in white labcoats plot our demise. There are buildings -- every research lab and every university classroom are places for science to be conducted and to produce knowledge.
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You're talking about an idealized notion of science. It is something that I think most scientists aspire to, but in general there is much more to the story.
Here is a modified, but frequently accurate definition of science:
Science is a process, frequently funded by people trying to make money or support a preconceived policy, through which data is gathered and analyzed in an attempt to support the quarterly sales goals or preconceived policy of the people providing the funding.
See here:
http://www.prevention.ch/amjinmed2006.pdf
Adami is currently a professor at Harvard and Doll is still one of the big names in 20th century epidemiology.
This is an example of how science
sometimes, more and more as government funding is cut happens in reality.