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A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new gen
by willturman 2y ago
A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it ...
An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents: it rarely happens that Saul becomes Paul. What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out, and that the growing generation is familiarized with the ideas from the beginning: another instance of the fact that the future lies with the youth.
— Max Planck, Scientific autobiography, 1950
- cmxch 2y agoThat assumes no replenishment or preservation efforts of the “old” idea. Never mind that it is a bad proposal to wait people out and hope they don’t notice or act out of self-preservation.
- ffsm8 2y agoIt's an observation, not an proposal. And its are worrisome one if true, because the young people are constantly exposed to quiet extreme opinions, lies and outrage influencers etc. I.e. we've got people unironically saying they'd rather have their kids encounter a brown bear in the woods then an unknown man. That's how delusional people are becoming. If the observation holds true, then the next 60+ years are basically locked into getting extremely bad...