The Risk of Discovery
19 hours ago
- Biographies of famous scientists often omit their mistakes, leading us to underestimate the risks they took.
- Successful choices by scientists appear unrisky because they have become conventional wisdom.
- Newton's focus on physics is emphasized, while his work on alchemy and theology is dismissed, creating a false impression of unerring judgment.
- The assumption that smartness and craziness are separate may be flawed; in Newton's era, physics, alchemy, and theology seemed equally promising.
- Newton took three risky bets—only one succeeded, highlighting the true risk involved in scientific exploration.