He wasn't afraid to dive into the details of topics that many people shun or simply dismiss. He made arguments, and encouraged counter-arguments. Without that,

He wasn't afraid to dive into the details of topics that many people shun or simply dismiss. He made arguments, and encouraged counter-arguments. Without that, there would be blind consensus, and at worst, societal stagnation. It's his relentless urge to shake things up that made him one of the most prominent figures in science fiction. It's very telling that there wasn't some kind of disagreement with Jeannette Ng's shockingly ignorant outburst, or the delighted applause of her equally ignorant audience.