Hawking Could Wise Up Politicians

Your editorial justly lauds Stephen Hawking for his courageous change of mind in admitting he made a mistake in an earlier hypothesis (“A Great Scientist,” July 24). Isn’t that the very essence of the scientific method: being able to change your mind when confronted with new evidence which refutes an accepted theory or fact, newly proved false?

Galileo was threatened with death for his apostasy in stating that the Earth revolves around the sun. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.” Yet, in the topsy-turvy world of American politics, someone with the courage to change his or her mind when confronted with new facts is called a flip-flopper, and someone who “stays the course” despite new evidence is considered a strong leader. Consistency in the service of truth is heroic, but consistency in the service of “facts” that have been proved wrong is foolish.

Martin Elkort

Marina Del Rey