56 CATALYZING INQUIRY
its absolute truth value). Without the existence of databases with differing editorial policies, some
important but iconoclastic data or results might never be published. On the other hand, there is no
guarantee of consistency among these data and results, which means that progress at the frontiers will
depend on expert judgment in deciding which data and results will constitute the foundation from
which to build.
In short, reconciling the tension between truth and diversity—both desirable, but for different
reasons—is implicitly a part of the construction of every large-scale database.