> I'm beginning to think that the best way to approach a problem is by either not being aware of or disregarding most of the similar efforts that came before.

> I'm beginning to think that the best way to approach a problem is by either not being aware of or disregarding most of the similar efforts that came before. This is an "Einstein failed Math" fallacy. It's true that novel and notable work tends strongly not to be bound by existing consensus, which when you say it that way is hardly surprising. So yes, if consensus is wrong in some particular way the people most likely to see that are the ones least invested in the consensus. But most problems aren't like that! Almost always the "best" way to solve a problem, certainly the best way you're going to solve the problem, is "however someone else already solved it". But sometimes it's not, and that's when interesting stuff happens.