False Prophets: Fraud and Error in Science and Medicine [Paperback]

Alexander Kohn (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0631162372 | ISBN-13: 978-0631162377 | Publication Date: July 1988

Did Newton fudge his figures? Who counted Mendel's peas? What lay behind Cyril Burt's disturbing statistics on race and intelligence? This work chronicles the famous frauds - from Piltdown man to the Hitler diaries - and unearths some lesser-known incidents buried in the scientific literature. Taking examples from all areas of science and medicine as well as anthropology, archaeology and psychology the author explores the deceivers' motives and discusses the conditions and pressures that make fraud possible. For this revised edition, the author has taken the opportunity to introduce new evidence on some of the case studies originally discussed. He has also added material on the controversy surrounding the attempts by different groups of scientists to establish the origins of AIDS. In a completely new chapter he asks whether fraud is endemic to science, whether errors in the publication of the results of scientific research are unavoidable and what happens to scientists who "blow the whistle" on their colleagues or corporations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Kohn, professor of virology at Tel Aviv University, surveys the broad range of scientific "misconduct" or honest error: Margaret Mead's misreading of Samoan sexual behavior; outright fraud like the Piltdown Man fakery; the thalidomide tragedy of the 1960s; Lysenko-style biology in Russia. Here are summarized exposes of scientific misdemeanors from corner-cutting by sometimes well-meaning lab assistants to issues of possible bias, conscious or otherwise, in major media flaps like the racially controversial "findings" of British psychologist Burt that "low intelligence" is hereditary. All fascinating material. Why do some scientists cheat in full knowledge of the profoundly skeptical nature of their discipline? Kohn pinpoints fame, money and personal pathology while downplaying the notion that the scientific fraud he exposes may be a cancer beyond control. Illustrations.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Who cheats in science and how often does cheating occur? These and other questions are the subject of this revealing study of scientific misconduct. Kohn, professor of virology at Tel Aviv University and editor of the Journal of Irreproducible Results , examines the ways investigators unintentionally make errors through personal bias or visual limitations or intentionally "cook" and "trim" data. He describes in fascinating detail instances of blatant cheating, famous hoaxes, plagiarism, and forgeries, and he explores the pressures which contribute to cheating and ways in which fraud is detected. Evidence suggests that even such famous scientists as Newton and Mendel may have fudged data to support their theories. Kohn presents a sensitive, balanced, and fully documented account which should generate much useful dialogue. For public and academic libraries. Laurie Bartolini, Illinois State Museum, Springfield
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Blackwell Pub (July 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631162372
• ISBN-13: 978-0631162377
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,194,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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