Re: Unboxed - When Academia Puts Profit Ahead of Wonder - NYTimes.com

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: George Dyson <gdyson () gmail com>
Date: September 7, 2008 1:47:33 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] Unboxed - When Academia Puts Profit Ahead of Wonder  
- NYTimes.com


"....as a matter of history, the scientific discoveries that have  
ultimately inured to the  benefit of society either financially or  
socially have  been made by men like Faraday and Clerk Maxwell who  
never gave a thought to the possible financial profit of their work.  
They were driven on by the  spirit of curiosity, and that alone should  
animate workers in scientific laboratories. The moment that research  
is utilized as a source of profit, its spirit is debased. The state's  
and the individual's interest in its support is necessarily weakened,  
and the most glorious characteristic of modern science is debased.   
There may be a few who will think that Dr. Gregg is treading on their  
toes. If so, let the 'galled jade wince.'"

Abraham Flexner*, UNIVERSITY PATENTS, Science, Vol. 77, No. 1996 (31  
March 1933) p. 325.

(*1866-1959, author of "The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge")






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