Leave Room for Uncertainty

What then is the meaning of the whole world? We do not know what the meaning of existence is. We say, as the result of studying all of the views that we have had before, we find that we do not know the meaning of existence; but in saying that we do knot know the meaning of existence, we have probably found the open channel--if we will allow only that, as we progress, we leave open opportunities for alternatives , that we do not become enthusiastic for the fact, the knowledge, the absolute truth, but remain always uncertain--[that we] "hazard it." The English, who have developed their government in this direction, call it "muddling through," and although a rather silly, stupid sounding thing, it is the most scientific way of progressing. To decide upon the answer is not scientific. In order to make progress, one must leave the door to the unknown ajar--ajar only. We are only at the beginning of the development of the human race; of the development of the human mind, of intelligent life--we have years and years in the future. It is our responsibility not to give the answer today as to what it is all about, to drive everybody down in that direction and to say: "This is a solution to it all." Because we will be chained then to the limits of our present imagination. We will only be able to do those things that we think today are the things to do. Whereas, if we leave always some room for doubt, some room for discussion, and proceed tin a way analogous to the sciences, then this difficulty will not arise.

Notes:

Science doesn't have the meaning of life, but we are muddling through it and that's a good thing.

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 What Is and What Should Be The Role of Scientific Culture in Modern Society
Books, Brochures, and Chapters>Book Chapter:  Feynman, Richard (1964), What Is and What Should Be The Role of Scientific Culture in Modern Society, Galileo Symposium, Italy, Retrieved on 2010-11-08
 


Schemas

01 JAN 2010

 Scientific Virtues

Memes that define the virtues of science and behaviors that we should emulate.
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