Cargo Cult Science

The Cargo Cults were formed by primitive natives who wished to encourage the return to their villages of many good and wonderful things that had come when airplanes had flown to and from makeshift airstrips near them. The airplanes indeed seemed miraculous, since they arrived from a culture so far advanced technologically that the natives were unable to comprehend it. Moreover, the airplanes brought various remarkable items that could make native life easier and more enjoyable.

The natives noticed that the airplanes were correlated with airstrips which had various distinguishing features. They therefore attempted to bring back the airplanes by reproducing the appearance of the airstrips from indigenous building materials including mock buildings and even mock radio transmitters constructed from local vegetation. They rejected all evidence contrary to their hypothesis. Eventually, native leaders were given visits to modern civilization. Even then, they rejected overwhelming evidence contrary to their original hypothesis and the cult they had created surrounding it. Contrary evidence was not beneficial to the self-interests of Cult leaders.

As a young scientist, I found it unthinkable to ignore data because it was inconvenient or to argue that mere correlation between two parameters proved a causal link between them. I didn't learn these and related principles from lectures or books. I learned them as most higher principles are taught - by example. During my undergraduate years at Caltech (1959-1963) and later graduate studies I was surrounded by people of high intellectual integrity. When I read Feyn-man's lecture in the late 1960s, I found it interesting but not very relevant to my world - the world of basic research in physical and biological chemistry. Feynman, however, knew about another world.

As a result of several unusual opportunities, adequate ability, and hard work, I was given a faculty position at the age of 25 at the University of California at San Diego immediately after completing my PhD work at that University and with no postdoctoral work. Later, Linus Pauling and I cofounded a research institute which became the Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine. At age 32, I became that Institute's President and Research Director.

Idealism, however, is not sufficient protection from the brutality of human nature. I learned that the closer science moves to research that is immediately applicable to human affairs, the less attention is paid to fundamental principles such as intellectual honesty. Politics, power, notoriety, money - especially in this political era of rampaging government power - become far more important than truth.

Some people are addicted to the truth. They often make mistakes, but they want to know of those mistakes, so they can be corrected. Petr Beckmann started Access to Energy, because he wanted more people to share this addiction. It is, however, an addiction that can be very hazardous to one's professional health.

Many members of the Access to Energy family share an addiction to the truth even though our own human natures keep tugging us away from it. Many first-rate scientists solve this problem by withdrawing from human affairs - back into basic research.

I believe that truth can triumph in human affairs. This is a belief. If I claim that it is also a reasonable expectation, I too am engaging in Cargo Cult Science. The world is awash in data contrary to this belief.