Quote by Michael Crichton, Speech, Califo
The work of science has nothing whatever to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics.Science, on the contrary, requires only one investigator who happens to be right, which means that he or she has results that are verifiable by reference to the real world. In science consensus is irrelevant. What is relevant is reproducible results. The greatest scientists in history are great precisely because they broke with the consensus.There is no such thing as consensus science. If it's consensus, it isn't science. If it's science, it isn't consensus. Period.http://www.michaelcrichton.net/speech-alienscauseglobalwarming.html
Summary
This quote by author Michael Crichton highlights the fundamental difference between science and politics. In science, consensus is not a valid measure of truth; instead, it is based on reproducible results that can be verified in the real world. Crichton argues that true scientific breakthroughs are often the result of individuals challenging the consensus and presenting verifiable evidence. He asserts that if an idea is widely accepted through consensus, it is more likely a political standpoint rather than a scientific fact. Overall, he emphasizes the importance of reproducibility and evidence-based research in science, distinguishing it from political agreements and beliefs.