3 ms·

What is it is the other way around? That he progressed so far because of his occult roots, but that we don't hear about this sort of thing so much nowadays? P

What is it is the other way around? That he progressed so far because of his occult roots, but that we don't hear about this sort of thing so much nowadays? PS I personally find it, erm, disconcerting, that someone with a background in magic was able to reach these sorts of heights.

ethbr0 5y ago
> someone with a background in magic was able to reach these sorts of heights Per sibling comment, it doesn't seem surprisingly that someone willing the push the bounds of scientific knowledge also pushed the bounds of thought. And ultimately, that's what experimental science is supposed to be about -- either the thing works or it doesn't. No consideration of the inventor's other qualities. On the other, non-scientific hand, I would have been surprised if he wasn't rejected for a security clearance though!
- gameswithgo 5y ago
  He was tuned a bit more open that is ideal, though. And by a bit I mean way way more open.
- Chris2048 5y ago
  The though was unconventional, but I wouldn't necessarily say it was innovative - arguably scientific principles are more innovative and unintuitive than the occult philosophies that preceded them. > that's what experimental science is supposed to be about science is supposed to build up knowledge. You shouldn't really be testing things without establishing its basis, otherwise you can't really evaluate the results anyway.
  - ethbr0 5y ago
    I think that ordering is a modern science vs early science distinction. Most of the early principles of gravity, motion, electricity, and magnetism were observed and experimentally tested before having a basis to evaluate them. Heck, even quantum mechanics was (and arguably, still is, in un-unified form) experimentally characterized before an explanation (see: double-slit results).
    - Chris2048 5y ago
      sure, but the occult appears to take e.g. the existence of certain spirits/deities as granted, despite having no experimental confirmation. How would a ritual dependant on such lore be objective?

ethbr0 5y ago

> someone with a background in magic was able to reach these sorts of heights Per sibling comment, it doesn't seem surprisingly that someone willing the push the bounds of scientific knowledge also pushed the bounds of thought. And ultimately, that's what experimental science is supposed to be about -- either the thing works or it doesn't. No consideration of the inventor's other qualities. On the other, non-scientific hand, I would have been surprised if he wasn't rejected for a security clearance though!

gameswithgo 5y ago
He was tuned a bit more open that is ideal, though. And by a bit I mean way way more open.
Chris2048 5y ago
The though was unconventional, but I wouldn't necessarily say it was innovative - arguably scientific principles are more innovative and unintuitive than the occult philosophies that preceded them. > that's what experimental science is supposed to be about science is supposed to build up knowledge. You shouldn't really be testing things without establishing its basis, otherwise you can't really evaluate the results anyway.
- ethbr0 5y ago
  I think that ordering is a modern science vs early science distinction. Most of the early principles of gravity, motion, electricity, and magnetism were observed and experimentally tested before having a basis to evaluate them. Heck, even quantum mechanics was (and arguably, still is, in un-unified form) experimentally characterized before an explanation (see: double-slit results).
  - Chris2048 5y ago
    sure, but the occult appears to take e.g. the existence of certain spirits/deities as granted, despite having no experimental confirmation. How would a ritual dependant on such lore be objective?