Serge Lang quotes

I am not here concerned with intent, but with scientific standards, especially the ability to tell the difference between a fact, an opinion, a hypothesis, and a hole in the ground. (Serge Lang)
I don't like the nonsense that passes for rational discourse so often in our society. I am very much bothered by the inaccuracies, ambiguities, code words, slogans, catch phrases, public relation devices, sweeping generalizations, and stereotypes, which are used (consciously or otherwise) to influence people. View quote
Serge Lang
To address questions of scientific responsibility does not necessarily imply that one needs technical competence in a particular field (e.g. biology) to evaluate certain technical matters. View quote
Serge Lang
Questions have arisen about the policing of science. Who is responsible for the policing? My answer is: all of us. View quote
Serge Lang
There exist thousands of Americans who have AIDS-defining diseases but are HIV negative. View quote
Serge Lang
If Baltimore's view, that scientists who do not take the words of authorities are far removed from the ordinary behavior of scientists, prevails in the scientific community, then something fundamental, very serious, and very disturbing is happening to the scientific community. View quote
Serge Lang
I am bothered by the misinformation which gets disseminated uncritically through the media and by the obstructions which prevent correct information from being disseminated. These obstructions come about in many ways - personal, institutional, through self-imposed inhibitions, through external inhibitions, through outright dishonesty, through incompetence - the list is a long one. View quote
Serge Lang
I am bothered by the way misinformation is accepted uncritically, and by the way people are unable to recognize it or reject it. View quote
Serge Lang
I am bothered by the way misinformation, disguised as scholarship, is used in social, political, and educational contexts to affect policy decisions. View quote
Serge Lang
Questions have also arisen about AIDS being transmitted to hemophiliacs via blood transfusions. View quote
Serge Lang
They cannot count on the press and they cannot count on Congressional committees to bring the problems of the scientific community to their own attention, or to police the scientific community. (Serge Lang)
What standards are upheld by the scientific community affect the community internally, and also affect its relations with society at large, including Congress. View quote
Serge Lang
Originally, in the early eighties, the drug hypothesis was among the first which occurred to scientists. View quote
Serge Lang
Of course, there are diseases of which people die. View quote
Serge Lang
Of course, screening for HIV did essentially eliminate the transmission of this virus by transfusions. View quote
Serge Lang
Roughly speaking, this hypothesis asks whether drug use causes some of the diseases officially associated with AIDS, such as immunodeficiency and Kaposi's sarcoma. View quote
Serge Lang
I object to a legal approach when settling questions of science or scientific behavior. View quote
Serge Lang

Serge Lang

Serge Lang - Image
Photo: Wikimedia commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Occupation: French-American Mathematician
Born: May 19, 1927
Died: September 12, 2005
Quotes count: 17
Wikipedia: Serge Lang

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