When experts say the fate of the world lies in the hands of their field...it’s not an indication they’re wrong. It’s just not really strong evidence they’re right either. In any field, we can reasonably expect researchers to believe their field has great significance. From the outside, they sort of all sound the same. When I read this quip, that’s what is think of.
Unfortunately, with nuclear weapons, it was virtually impossible to convince officials of their feasibility right up until the months leading to Hiroshima, and then, really only with demos, not expert opinions. It’s a really tough sell. And if it’s not being explained and argued extremely well, and even then, I’ll be unlikely to be moved by just about anything, because it sounds very similar to all the times people have tried to convince me something they’re really into has all the answers.
When experts say the fate of the world lies in the hands of their field...it’s not an indication they’re wrong. It’s just not really strong evidence they’re right either. In any field, we can reasonably expect researchers to believe their field has great significance. From the outside, they sort of all sound the same. When I read this quip, that’s what is think of.
Unfortunately, with nuclear weapons, it was virtually impossible to convince officials of their feasibility right up until the months leading to Hiroshima, and then, really only with demos, not expert opinions. It’s a really tough sell. And if it’s not being explained and argued extremely well, and even then, I’ll be unlikely to be moved by just about anything, because it sounds very similar to all the times people have tried to convince me something they’re really into has all the answers.