Chapter 1, Problem 10RQ

Why is honesty a matter of self-interest to a scientist?

To determine

The reason behind honesty being a matter of self-interest to a scientist.

Answer to Problem 10RQ

The loss of credibility in the scientific community is the reason behind honesty being a matter of self-interest to a scientist.

Explanation of Solution

In science, only those thoughts are accepted, which can be examined experimentally. Scientists, like any other person, are prone to self-deception. Scientists may produce a tendency to see what they wish to see rather than accepting the real outcome of the experiment.

However, if such mistakes or deception are found out, it results in the loss of credibility in the scientific community. Hence, honesty is of self-interest for scientists.

Conclusion:

The loss of credibility among the scientific community is a major setback for any scientist. Honesty plays a vital role in avoiding this scenario and hence is a matter of self-interest to any scientist.