3 ms·

The point is that you don't know up front if or when that's going to happen.

• sicp-enjoyer 4y ago
  Expectation of high variability or long time frame sounds different from what the other poster said.
  • Tainnor 4y ago
    Nobody had any use for number theory for some two and a half millenia or so, until we figured out that it can be used to secure communications and data. How would you assess things like that?
    • sicp-enjoyer 4y ago
      Once, again, the original poster said that we should pursue science with little to no expectation of usefulness, and should pursue it for its own sake. I am merely arguing that IF that is the case, then it may not be worth pursuing with public money. To your suggestion, I am not arguing that we should not fund things, just because we don't have an initial understanding of how it will be useful.
      • deleted 4y ago
        [deleted]