“Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.” Richard Feyman
I was inspired by the scientific method in my late teens.
I had the good fortune to not have learned science in school, but in the dusty aisles of a used book store in Montclair N.J instead.
The greatest thinkers reveal a maze of the mind. I picked up a book by Tom Wolfe called The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test which led me to the writing of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Richard Alpert, and eventually, Richard Feynman.
“Surely you’re joking Mr. Feynman” - one of the best autobiographies of all time, sits on my desk at our campus.
It is an insight into what the scientific method is at its heart, not the industry of science that confuses the central premise to the point that it becomes its mirror opposite.
Science at its heart is the art of asking questions.
Science as an industry is a frenzied battle to weaponize the answers to questions that were poorly asked to begin with.
As I prepare to relaunch the Physiology First Podcast next week I’m inspired to explore the art of asking questions, whether or not they can be answered, as opposed to presenting answers that can’t be questioned.
Science as a Candle in the Dark:
Another great mentor and guiding light in the search for the depth of the scientific method was Carl Sagan. In his book Science as a Candle in the Dark he wrote: “It is better to light one candle, than to curse the darkness.”
As I write this we are standing at a great intersection in our evolution. The A.I Age is in its infancy, and despite the breakthroughs in health technology and other critical sectors of our society, the impact on our sense of shared reality has been nothing short of devastating.
The algorithms that determine how we see the world are shaped by a single curious click months ago that warps our perception on world events today. If we were to swap phones with a stranger on a bus in Central London we would be shocked to see what they see on their digital carousel, easily confused with reality.
As we stumble towards the following intersection partially blind from the blue light of our tiny glowing torches, and partially awed from the overwhelming pace of progress that is either celebrated or denounced depending on what algorithm you are living in, we have the scientific method to serve as candle in the light.
The Four Corners:
Generation Isolation: The online world is the real world, the outside word is ancillary. Human connection is a cultural artifact.
Generation Self-Obsession: Social status is the ultimate incentive. Self-worth is determined by how others perceive and rate us on social media.
Generation Division: Eternally frowning in a hall of mirrors, this person equates anger with social intelligence as if they weren’t the product of intelligent machines that monetize anger through sustained attention through the medium of the algorithm.
Generation Evolution: An insatiable learning machine whose hunger for knowledge is matched only by their thirst for experience. Using the tools of peak performers and scientific luminaries they adapt on purpose, evolve with agency, and walk a path of meaning despite, or in spite of, the madness of the world.
My aim with the Physiology First Podcast is to share a strategy for navigating this critical intersection with heightened clarity.
It’s also to share how we communicate the science of health and human potential to kids and families at our campuses.
I want to highlight how human connection and communication act as a conduit for the transmission of ideas that serve as sparks for critical thinking and personal revelation.
I want to share a candle that can be passed from hand to had as we stand in the darkness of our ignorance at the edge of evolution.
I’ve had the honor of speaking with some incredible guests whose conversations I’ll air as the show progresses. The first few episodes will feature me solo attempting to break down the essence of what we’ve learned about the art and science of being human.
In this primer I share more about what the scientific method means to me, and why I believe it is our only path back to a sense of shared reality as we drift along the seas of shattered unity, together.
I truly hope that you enjoy the show and look forward to your thoughts, questions, and insights throughout the journey.
Episode one airs next week so stay tuned and take a second to subscribe to receive the episode directly in your inbox!
David
