Models and Standards of Proof in Cross-Disciplinary Science: The Case of Arsenic DNA
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Benner-2013-Models and Standards of Proof in Cross-Disciplinary Science.pdf
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128 KB
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Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
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Author(s)
Benner, Steven A.
Bains, William
Seager, Sara
Date Issued
May 2013
Journal
Astrobiology
Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert
Citation
Benner, Steven A., William Bains, and Sara Seager. “Models and Standards of Proof in Cross-Disciplinary Science: The Case of Arsenic DNA.” Astrobiology 13, no. 5 (May 2013): 510-513. © 2012 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Of all the conflicts possible within cross-disciplinary studies, none are more confounding than those that arise from different standards that different disciplines require for "proof." Here, "proof" is not used as mathematicians use it, but rather it describes the collection of evidence sufficient to accept a discovery, stop experiments, and record a problem as "solved" (Davenas et al., 1988). Experiments can easily produce evidence that is sufficient proof for one scientific discipline but sufficient only to create further controversy for another. Indeed, the identical experimental evidence that is conclusive for one community and controversial for another might cause a third community to reject the very same conclusion entirely. Failure to understand the differences in these standards of proof can allow cross-disicplinary activities to produce flawed science on one hand and reject genuine innovation on the other.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
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Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2012.0954
