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Entry: The Galileo Myth Link: http://www.takimag.com/site/article/the_galileo_myth#16063 Post contents: "Anyone who thinks science is decided by rational evaluation of evidence is not very familiar with the history of science. Personal ambition and philosophical presumption color the findings of scientists (just as they do everyone else)" The above is pretty accurate, although I don't think that ambition and philosophy are usually the crucial factors. It is mostly about ego. From personal experience, what happens is that the scientist normally invests an enormous effort into researching a subject prior to developing a theory. Most scientists, not surprisingly, then become obsessed with their own theory (particularly if it is reasonably novel) and quite refractory to considering alternatives that would contradict their work. Sent at: 2008 12 02