Abstract
MR. WELLS'S letter in NATURE of July 25, p. 134, fails to notice a most important distinction. Knowledge concerning the origin of species may be, and usually is, honestly and honourably desired for its own sake without any view of practical application. Knowledge concerning contraception is sought, either from mere prurience, or from intention to practise it or to teach others to do so. Many who hold that the State has no right to control its members' thoughts hold that it has the right to control their actions; and such persons, if they hold (as I do not) that the prevention of conception is wrong, may oppose the propagation of knowledge which has no value except in so far as it leads to such prevention, without being insincere in their desire for intellectual freedom.
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CAMPBELL, N. Science and Intellectual Freedom. Nature 116, 208 (1925). https://doi.org/10.1038/116208a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/116208a0
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