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Alfred Nobel only wanted to reward people for making discoveries. There are many reasons one can argue that this is counterproductive (Like this article points
by lutorm 9y ago
Alfred Nobel only wanted to reward people for making discoveries. There are many reasons one can argue that this is counterproductive (Like this article points out, science is not a single-person endeavor, but even more importantly is that it invokes a huge survivorship bias: You only get the prize for being correct, so someone else who did just as important work on another theory that showed that it was not correct will never be rewarded.)
But in the end, it was Nobel's prerogative to do what he wanted with his money. We can argue whether it would have been better if he had done something different, but it is what it is. It's not a reward by a government or any community or democratically elected organization where we really have standing to argue that it should be different, it's just a committee trying to follow the century-plus old will of a single person. If we don't like what it does, we don't have to pay attention.
- ordu 9y agoHmm... Should we follow his idea how to reach his goals, or maybe we should follow his goals with our best? Nobel idea how to invest his money is based on the understanding science as it was at XIX century. But now science is different and is changing further constantly. So if we follow Nobel last will, than Nobel Prize would become irrelevant, having zero influence on science, just some tradition from the past to give money for good managers or for respectable elderly scientists choosed from hundreds of other equally respectable and elderly scientists by some qualities having nothing to productivity in science or revolutionary ideas. Alternatively we can try to adapt the Nobel Prize to new reality, allowing it to reflect current state of affairs and to hold its influence on science. I'm not a lawer, so I don't know is it possible to change Nobel Prize principles. All I want is to point to futility of blind following the old rule.
- likelynew 9y agoAre you aware that the rules can be and have been changed many times by the committee?
- spynxic 9y ago> It's not a reward by a government or any community or democratically elected organization where we really have standing to argue that it should be different, it's just a committee trying to follow the century-plus old will of a single person. If we don't like what it does, we don't have to pay attention. It's apparent that mainstream society sees it fit to uphold the tradition started by Aflred Nobel; so it's worth questioning what exactly is being sought after.