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This is one of the points the author makes in the book "Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder". He points out that one of the big examples of something wh
by octopoc 8y ago
This is one of the points the author makes in the book "Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder". He points out that one of the big examples of something where theory came first, then application came afterwards is the atomic bomb.
In a lot of other areas of practical invention, application comes first, then people come in afterwards with a theory. And frequently, the theorists take credit for the invention as if the theory had come first. He had some examples of this happening.
- MrEfficiency 8y agoThis hits home the most in Industrial Engineering. That field was not invented by academics, that was done by industry, and academia realized there was demand to teach it. Getting a PhD in Industrial Engineering seemed like a contradiction. The studies my professors were pushing seemed useless and untestable. I tried to make suggestions towards my interests, using big data on life at home, or specific ergonomic issues were useful to every human alive. When I left both my meetings with the professors, I realized I would be at their whim for the next 4-6 years.