The paradox of scientific inquiry
Being a scientist involves more than just a studious appreciation and study of facts, and requires the scientist to hold mutually incompatible ideals simultaneously in his mind. This manifests itself most clearly in the fight between conservatism and radicalism in scientific careers. Scientists are fundamentally conservative in our methodology, to an extent not generally understood by the public. We build happily on the foundation of past theories, and have a deep respect for methods of research that are proven to win results. Facts matter deeply, they cannot be willed away, and any attempts by politicians to do so on issues such as climate change strike most scientists as nonsensical. And yet in scientific culture there is a deep rejection of any kind of dogma, a radical willingness to destroy even our foundations if they prove faulty. Indeed, the radical scientist, creating new theories and ideas, is beloved and envied by scientists. I have realized more and more that the great scientists have a sort of arrogance in their manner, a confidence that “I can do this!”
There is also a paradox about the character of scientific work, so passionate and so full of suffering. The suffering, of course, is not of the brutal kind that so many poor and enslaved peoples of the world face, but grudging, plodding work day after day. This is even idealized by the scientific community: Thomas Edison once said that “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration,” and a former professor of mine quipped that “Nature gives up few of her secrets to the ignorant, and none to the lazy.” And yet good scientist do this suffering with passionate love; Think of the mad scientist with his creation, or Archimedes naked in the streets shouting “Eureka”.
All these paradoxes were summed up best by a scientist I know at the Institute of Ecosystem Studies that used religious terms: Each person should live as if they constantly have a piece of paper in hand saying “For dust thou art, and unto dust thou shall return,” and in the other hand a piece of paper that says “Ye shall be gods, knowing good and evil.”
