Editing 675: Revolutionary
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | The comic contrasts brilliant revolutionary scientific thought with the simplistic arrogance of assuming one understands the current scientific theory enough to correct it | + | The comic contrasts brilliant revolutionary scientific thought with the simplistic arrogance of assuming one understands the current scientific theory enough to correct it. The character with the goatee has a degree in {{w|philosophy}}, and perhaps has certain ideas of his own about how the world should fundamentally be described by physics. He has studied Einstein's {{w|theory of special relativity}} for less than an hour and thinks it is wrong, and that he has a better theory. When confronted about this, he considers the objection as based in {{w|dogma}}, and remains so confident that he wants to email the "president of physics". His ignorance of the field is emphasized by thinking that the entire field of physics has a president - although certain important organizations such as the {{w|American Physical Society}} do have presidents. |
[[Cueball]] concedes that it is possible for such a revolutionary idea to come from a relative outsider. One example is {{w|Albert Einstein}}'s own formulation of {{w|special relativity}}, which came while he was working at a patent office in Switzerland, although he did already have a Ph.D in physics. A {{w|thought experiment}} considers some hypothesis, theory, or principle for the purpose of thinking through its consequences. | [[Cueball]] concedes that it is possible for such a revolutionary idea to come from a relative outsider. One example is {{w|Albert Einstein}}'s own formulation of {{w|special relativity}}, which came while he was working at a patent office in Switzerland, although he did already have a Ph.D in physics. A {{w|thought experiment}} considers some hypothesis, theory, or principle for the purpose of thinking through its consequences. | ||
− | The "racecar on a train" idea alludes to thought experiments involving {{w|Frame_of_reference#Simple_example|frames of reference}}, which are important in relativity | + | The "racecar on a train" idea alludes to thought experiments involving {{w|Frame_of_reference#Simple_example|frames of reference}}, which are important in relativity. |
− | + | The title text compares two possible scenarios: | |
− | |||
− | The title text | ||
*That decades of work by numerous physicists is fundamentally incorrect, and I found the flaw immediately | *That decades of work by numerous physicists is fundamentally incorrect, and I found the flaw immediately | ||
*That I need to read a little more | *That I need to read a little more | ||
− | + | Randall then hints that reading a little more is less work than having to develop entirely new foundations of physics. | |
+ | |||
+ | Usually, when someone with little understanding of the subject thinks that they have found a flaw, it takes only a little bit more reading to discover that the flaw is in fact completely explained already. | ||
− | + | As an example, lets say a high school student happens to do sqrt(5-6). His calculator tells him 'Error', and he thinks he has uncovered a function which has no answer. In fact, with a little more reading, he would discover that mathematicians have a whole area devoted to this type of mathematics, namely {{w|Imaginary units|imaginary numbers}}. | |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
:Cueball: Yes, science is an open process in which a good idea can come from anybody. | :Cueball: Yes, science is an open process in which a good idea can come from anybody. | ||
− | :Cueball: Yes, widely-believed theories are | + | :Cueball: Yes, widely-believed theories are on occasion overturned by simple thought experiments. |
:Cueball: And yes, your philosophy degree equips you to ask interesting questions sometimes. | :Cueball: And yes, your philosophy degree equips you to ask interesting questions sometimes. |