Abstract
THE word ‘propaganda’ is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as “an organized scheme for propagation of a doctrine or practice” ; unfortunately it has acquired a bad, and recently an even sinister, meaning. There are few things from which the scientific worker reacts more instinctively than propaganda. Indeed, his wholesome and genuine prejudice against the word has sometimes led to less than justice being done to the work and abilities of those of his colleagues who have undertaken the task of expounding or interpreting to the world the results of scientific work and their significance for human welfare. There are spheres in which the essential task of education is not readily distinguished from propaganda, and propaganda itself has its uses as well as its abuses. Even societies which exist primarily for research and inquiry may fail of their purpose if they neglect to bring to the notice of the public whatever results have been obtained.
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Scientific Method in Propaganda. Nature 146, 1–3 (1940). https://doi.org/10.1038/146001a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/146001a0