Science Myths: Scientists are closed-minded

Some scientists are indeed closed-minded, as are some spiritualists, teachers, plumbers, musicians and astronauts. It's a fact of life.

However genuine science is actually the opposite of closed-minded. This is because the chief guiding principle of all science is to follow evidence, not preconceptions. Therefore if the evidence points in a certain direction, science is obliged to follow—irrespective of any individual scientist's belief or bias.

There are many examples of how science has forced its followers to be open-minded. The emergence of quantum physics in the early 20th Century was so radical that most scientists initially dismissed it. Many scientists (including Einstein) fought for years to debunk quantum physics but in the end the evidence was too strong. Scientists were required by their principles to be open-minded and accept the strange new theories.

If someone was able to provide robust evidence of psychic power, ghosts or any other paranormal phenomena, scientists would probably still resist and try to find alternative explanations—for a while. However, in the end the evidence would win just as it did with quantum physics.

Skeptics often point out the irony of this situation; that is, scientists are thought of as being closed-minded by people who will never change their own views no matter what evidence is presented to them.