Minutes of a Monday #16
Brain Food > Slow or no change
“Science claims a search for truth that would seem to protect it from conservatism and the irrationality of habit: It is a culture of innovation. Yet when Charles Darwin published his ideas of evolution, he faced fiercer opposition from his fellow scientists than from religious authorities. His theories challenged too many fixed ideas. Jonas Salk ran into the same wall with his radical innovations in immunology, as did Max Planck with his revolutionising of physics….the answer to innate conservatism is to play the courtier’s game.
Identify the elements in your revolution that can be made to seem to build on the past. Say the right things, make a show of conformity and meanwhile let your theories do their radical work. Play with appearances and respect past protocol. This is true in every arena – science being no exception.”
Robert Greene from The 48 Laws of Power (Law 45 ‘Preach the need for change, but never reform too much at once’).
Soul Food
"In such a massive place as the cosmos, we only have to look at ourselves to prove that extremely unlikely things can and do happen all the time."
Rare Air
“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.”
LOL
Russell Howard breaks down some behavioural science
AOB
Wishing you and yours a peaceful Christmas – Niall