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
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Scientific understanding can challenge traditional beliefs, but they are not inherently incompatible.
Peter Higgs reflects on how advancements in science can dilute certain motivations for belief that have been held for centuries. While he acknowledges that these beliefs may be undermined by new knowledge, he suggests that this does not mean that science and belief are fundamentally opposed. Instead, he points to a nuanced relationship where both can coexist yet be questioned by new understandings.
Themes
ScienceBeliefUnderstandingTraditionKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on science and spirituality, this quote can help illustrate the dialogue between faith and scientific understanding.
More from Peter Higgs
All quotes →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.
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.'
Peter HiggsRead
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