4 ms·

Yeah, I understand that people get satisfaction from seeing a scientist dunk on a journalist, but it doesn't seem justified in this case. Feynman's digression a

by Buldak 6y ago

Yeah, I understand that people get satisfaction from seeing a scientist dunk on a journalist, but it doesn't seem justified in this case. Feynman's digression about distinctions between proximate and ultimate causes is interesting of course, but it strikes me that the journalist's question isn't ambiguous in this respect, and it's pretty clear what he is asking.

magicalhippo 6y ago
The question is crystal clear, and Feynman even acknowledges that it's an excellent question. Feynman's detour is to explain to the interviewer that he can't give any satisfactory explanation beyond "the magnetic force exists and behaves like that" given that the interviewer has no advanced knowledge of physics. Trying to do so would invariably involve Feynman cheating the interviewer, causing the interviewer to believe he understood it better until he comes across the flaw in the reasoning.
- Izkata 6y ago
  But in the video he does eventually get to one, that GGGP half-mentions: It's (just about) the same force that prevents you from putting your hand through a chair even though atoms are mostly empty space, but strengthened due to how magnets are made so it works at a much larger distance. It's a simple, relatively satisfactory explanation a layperson should understand, that provides a hook for finding more in-depth knowledge if the asker wants to. The whole rest of it was unnecessary.
  - aeternum 6y ago
    Saying that it's the same force might provide some additional info but it is not really answering the question about why there is a force. The idea that atoms are mostly empty space is a great analog to his rubber band example. Our attempts to explain atoms in terms of electrons cleanly orbiting a nucleus gives people the wrong picture. Atoms are not mostly empty space, electrons become standing waves when part of an atom and it's not just that we cannot measure their position with accuracy, their position does not exist. The solar system metaphor for the atom has probably caused more harm than good.

by Buldak 6y ago

magicalhippo 6y ago

The question is crystal clear, and Feynman even acknowledges that it's an excellent question. Feynman's detour is to explain to the interviewer that he can't give any satisfactory explanation beyond "the magnetic force exists and behaves like that" given that the interviewer has no advanced knowledge of physics. Trying to do so would invariably involve Feynman cheating the interviewer, causing the interviewer to believe he understood it better until he comes across the flaw in the reasoning.

Izkata 6y ago
But in the video he does eventually get to one, that GGGP half-mentions: It's (just about) the same force that prevents you from putting your hand through a chair even though atoms are mostly empty space, but strengthened due to how magnets are made so it works at a much larger distance. It's a simple, relatively satisfactory explanation a layperson should understand, that provides a hook for finding more in-depth knowledge if the asker wants to. The whole rest of it was unnecessary.
- aeternum 6y ago
  Saying that it's the same force might provide some additional info but it is not really answering the question about why there is a force. The idea that atoms are mostly empty space is a great analog to his rubber band example. Our attempts to explain atoms in terms of electrons cleanly orbiting a nucleus gives people the wrong picture. Atoms are not mostly empty space, electrons become standing waves when part of an atom and it's not just that we cannot measure their position with accuracy, their position does not exist. The solar system metaphor for the atom has probably caused more harm than good.