User:Jaymax/Scientific opinion

Starting point for an Article on Scientific Opinion

'Scientific opinions' are opinions formed via the scientific method, and so are necessarily evidence backed. A scientific opinion, representing the formally-agreed consensus of a scientific body or establishment, often takes the form of a published position paper citing the research producing the Scientific evidence upon which the opinion is based. 'The Scientific Opinion' can be compared to 'the public opinion' and means the complex collection of the opinions of many different scientific organizations and entities, and also the opinions of scientists undertaking scientific research in the relevant field.

Refs

Popular Science Monthly

Aug 1878 Winchell - is corruptable

Litarary Notices - Adamites and Preadamites (evolutionary)

"Religious faith is more enduring than granite. Scientific opinion is uncertain; it may endure like granite or vanish like a summer cloud. Religious faith is simple, pure, and incorruptible; scientific opinion is a compound of all things, corruptible and incorruptible. Let us not adulterate pure faith with corruptible science. An unadulterated faith can be defended by the sturdiest blows of reason and logic; a corrupt faith puts reason and logic to shame."

Mar 1894 based on observation

Fossil Man* John G Rothermel

"There have been many attempts made to measure the age of geological strata -- none, however, that can be said to be satisfactory. Not only are any experimental data that can be used very uncertain indices of what actually took place in the remote past, but the bias of the experimenter in favor of this or that hypothes is is apt to be impressed on the result attained. It may be stated, however, that scientific opinion, based on careful observations and comparative computations from these observations, the details of which our time will not permit us to go into, seems now generally agreed that the Glacial period closed from ten to fifteen thousand years ago.

Dec 1913 Wallace - pendulum

Obituary for Alfred Russel Wallace, 1823-1913 By Dr Henry Fairfield Osborn Rsch Prof of Zoo, Columbia Uni

"In closing this review of a great life, we can not refrain from reflecting on the pendlulum of scientific opinion. The discovery of a great truth such as the law of Selection is always followed by an over-valuation, from which there is certain to be a reaction."

Popular Science

Nov 1925 Sleep - taking a consensus

Is Sleep Just a Useless Habit? Scientists seek to Reclaim the Hours Now Lost in Slumber

"An average man at 45 years today has spent about 15 years of his life in slumber. Despite the latest experiments, however, it is the concensus of scientific opinion that thus far there has been developed no way for the average man to reduce his sleep materially without a bad effect on his health."

July 1943 Tobacco - gets it wrong

Americans smoke more today: What is the truth ... here are some facts you should know. William Vogel, Jr.

"The great controversy about nicotine will probably rage as long as there are smokers and nonsmokers. Generally, the best scientific opinion is that nicotine is no more harmful to the average person than the caffeine In coffee or tea."