BNFO 491

Molecular Biology Through Discovery Words of Wisdom

Fall 2012

The gods did not reveal, from the beginning, All things to us; but in the course of time Through seeking we may learn and know things better. These things are, we conjecture, like the truth.       But as for certain truth, no man has known it, Nor will he know it; neither of the gods Nor yet of all things of which I speak. And even if by chance he were to utter The perfect truth, he would himself not know it For all is but a woven web of guesses. - Xenophanes Quoted by Karl Popper Myth of the Framework: In Defence of Science and Rationality, p.39 ...as soon as I had finished the entire course of study at the close of which it is customary to be received into the order of the learned...       I found myself involved in so many doubts and errors, that I was convinced I had advanced no farther in all my attempts at learning, than the discovery at every turn of my own ignorance. - René Descartes Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason, and Seeking Truth in the Sciences, p.4 Crick and Watson together developed a surprisingly efficient approach. They would often uncritically brainstorm about possibilities, whereupon they switched gear and ruthlessly scrutinized the result - of themselves or of each other.       Both men appeared to have an unusual tolerance for criticism, in the sense that they were able to disconnect the critique from the person behind it - an ideal situation in science but seldomly achieved. - Ullica Segerstrale Critical Fun with Francis Crick J Biosci (2004) 29:381-384 Science alone of all the subjects contains within itself the lesson of the danger of belief in the infallibility of the greatest teachers in the preceding generation...       Learn from science that you must doubt the experts... Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts. - Richard Feynman The Pleasure of Finding Things Out (1999), p187 The first principle is that you must not fool yourself -- and you are the easiest person to fool... After you've not fooled yourself, it's easy not to fool other scientists. You just have to be honest... - Richard Feynman, The Pleasure of Finding Things out (1964), p.212 Science is the topography of ignorance. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Border Lines of Knowledge in Some Provinces of Medical Science Medical Essays 209-272 (p.211) All the great revolutions in science start with an unexpected discrepancy that wouldn't go away. - Matthew Strassler. Reported by Brian Vastag in "Particles faster than light: Revolution or mistake?" Washington Post, September 23, 2011 It may be true, that as Francis Thompson noted, "Thou canst not stir a flower without troubling a star", but in computing the motion of stars and planets, the effects of flowers do not loom large. It is the disregarding of the effect of flowers on stars that allows progress in astronomy. - Herman Shugart Plant Functional Types (1997), p. 20 The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. - F. Scott Fitzgerald "The Crack-Up", Esquire Magazine (February 1936) 'I can't believe that' said Alice. 'Can't you?' the Queen said in a pity tone. 'Try again: draw a long breath, and shut your eyes'. Alice laughed. 'There's no use trying' she said, 'one can't believe impossible things'.       'I dare say you haven't had much practice' said the Queen. 'When I was your age I did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast'" - Lewis Carroll Through the Looking Glass (1871)