As a theoretician, I am proud to be part of a counter revolution... discovering that quantum field theory language was not dead and finished but had not really been explored thoroughly enough.
Peter HiggsRead
When the basic status of a theory is clear, and all that needs to be cleared are details, you can collaborate. But if the main structure of a hypothesis isn't established, and you want to change the paradigm - like it was the case in the 1960s - it's better to work alone.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Collaboration is effective when foundational theories are clear; otherwise, individual work is preferable.
Peter Higgs emphasizes the importance of having a solid foundational understanding of a theory before collaborating with others. If the fundamental elements of a hypothesis are not well-established, particularly when significant paradigm shifts are at stake, it may be more advantageous to develop ideas independently to prevent confusion and conflict.
Themes
CollaborationTheoryScienceParadigmHypothesis
In practice
Example use cases
In a scientific conference discussing research methodologies.
More from Peter Higgs
All quotes →The growth of our understanding of the world through science weakens some of the motivation which makes people believers. But that's not the same thing as saying they're incompatible. It's just that I think some of the traditional reasons for belief, going back thousands of years, are rather undermined.
Peter HiggsRead
I was an embarrassment to the department when they did research assessment exercises. A message would go round the department: 'Please give a list of your recent publications.' And I would send back a statement: 'None.'
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