3 Ideas in 2 Minutes on Scientific Progress
Newton’s Flaming Laser Sword, Planck's Principle & Three Stages of Scientific Discovery
I. Newton’s Flaming Laser Sword
Newton’s Flaming Laser Sword, aka Alder’s Razor, is a philosophical razor coined by Australian mathematician Mike Alder. It encourages us to avoid pointless debate over things that cannot be proven:
In its weakest form it says that we should not dispute propositions unless they can be shown by precise logic and/or mathematics to have observable consequences. In its strongest form it demands a list of observable consequences and a formal demonstration that they are indeed consequences of the proposition claimed.
Broadly speaking, if there’s no empirical evidence for a proposition, we shouldn’t bother debating it in the first place. If it cannot be proven or disproven by experiment or observation, where’s the point of discussing it?
Alder originally named his idea Newton’s Flaming Laser Sword because it was “sharper and more dangerous” than Ockham’s Razor. It’s also reminiscent of Daniel Dennett’s concept of chmess.
II. Planck's Principle
Science progresses one funeral at a time.
…is the colloquial version of Planck’s Principle, a concept from the study of science as a social activity. The original was of course formulated by famed German physicist Max Planck:
A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.
Interestingly enough, the science on whether seasoned researchers are really less likely to change their minds than their younger peers has yet to be settled.
Speaking about science, check out my latest essay on Cargo Cults: How to Fail Your Way to Success.
III. Three Stages of Scientific Discovery
Still, it seems like it’s not advisable to be the first to discover scientific truth. Here’s writer and humorist Bill Bryson summing up the convoluted process of scientific progress:
There are three stages in scientific discovery. First, people deny that it is true, then they deny that it is important; finally they credit the wrong person.
―Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything
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Chris
themindcollection.com