Here's a possible explanation for why academic science is a tournament market. To have an effective scientific community you need to have people build on the w

Here's a possible explanation for why academic science is a tournament market. To have an effective scientific community you need to have people build on the work of other scientists. But if there are too many other scientists, all of which have equally obscure work, this becomes difficult. So scientists are all trying to push their own work to make sure it gets the attention it deserves. The ones who are successful become heroes; the ones who aren't are discarded. Just a guess; I really know nothing about this.