I’ve heard this too about number theory. Perhaps in that field, the paradigm shift lies in reducing incidental complexity? Or even managing it in a way that is

I’ve heard this too about number theory. Perhaps in that field, the paradigm shift lies in reducing incidental complexity? Or even managing it in a way that is better for humans? > it takes a PhD before people can even understand the frontier of most scientific fields It’s interesting that we have this implicit view that hyper-specialization is the only way to advance. I always thought so too, but why really? If you think about it, specialization is very close to incrementalism. Groundbreaking paradigm-shift stuff can often be written down on a napkin, and rarely does it require a PhD. That said, to find treasure you have to go down a LOT of wrong paths before you (or someone else) ends up in the right one.