Sunday, August 12, 2018
First light?
While "conservatives" defeat their own purpose by pushing ever farther into pure and useless theory, the theorists seem to be showing a tiny hint of rebellion, a first tentative move back toward actual science.
Abraham Loeb writing in SciAm, and amazingly getting published....
The experience of subjecting a theoretical conjecture to an experimental test is humbling. If the conjecture turns out to be wrong, it must be adjusted. Becoming a physicist brings with it the privilege of retaining your childhood curiosity throughout your adult life. There is no need to pretend you know more than you actually do, and you can admit mistakes if proven wrong by experience, just like a child who is seeking to learn about the world. Doing pure theory without worrying about experimental verification actually deprives one from the pleasure of learning something new about nature.EXACTLY. Pure theory deprives you of the PLEASURE of learning something new. I might add the pleasure of learning something TRUE. Loeb again:
The feedback from experimental data is essential. At its foundation, physics is a dialogue with nature, not a monologue as some theorists would prefer to believe.Whether he knows it or not, he's quoting Carver! LOOK ABOUT YOU. TAKE HOLD OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HERE. TALK TO THEM. LET THEM TALK TO YOU.
Labels: Carver, Experiential education
¶ 6:48 AM
