In Retrospect: The Social Function of Science

Abstract

The very bulk of scientific publications is itself delusive. It is of very unequal value; a large proportion of it, possibly as much as three-quarters, does not deserve to be published at all, and is only published for economic considerations which have nothing to do with the real interests of science. The position of every scientific worker has been made to depend far too much on the bulk rather than the quality of his scientific publications. Publication is often premature and dictated by the need of establishing priorities, itself an indication of the unnecessary struggle for existence that goes on inside the scientific world.