Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: C-guy on 06/10/2004 01:46:06

Title: Mesmerized by elegance
Post by: C-guy on 06/10/2004 01:46:06

Does anyone think that scientists sometimes resist new theories just because they aren't as elegant?

Moving at the speed of light.

Title: Re: Mesmerized by elegance
Post by: gsmollin on 06/10/2004 18:42:10

They resist them because they are new, elegant or not. Einstein said God didn't play with dice, referring to QM. Michaelson said he saw "red" on the subject of relativity. It's not just scientists, either. The catholic church recently admitted that they were wrong to arrest Gallileo when he told the Pope he wasn't at the center of the universe (not in so many words).

Who was it who said that new theories take hold when old scientists pass away?

Title: Re: Mesmerized by elegance
Post by: Ylide on 11/10/2004 22:07:22

"God doesn't play dice."  --Einstein

"Einstein, don't tell God what to do."  --Bohr



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Title: Re: Mesmerized by elegance
Post by: realityengineer on 18/02/2005 04:40:18

lol, go Bohr

I agree fully, many people also don't like to know they didn't arrive at a theory first, or they are resistent to accepting changes which affects their 'picture of the whole'.

Title: Re: Mesmerized by elegance
Post by: sharkeyandgeorge on 07/03/2005 12:27:09

A lecturer of mine once told me that theorys come to be accepted as truths  rather than the abstracts they are supposed to be. mind you this is the same guy we used to run a sweepstake on how many times he would mention jobbies per class. FYI the current record before I left was 67 times in a two hour class.