We're in very bad trouble if we don't understand the planet we're trying to save.
Carl SaganRead
All models are wrong, and increasingly you can succeed without them.
Interpretation
Models and theories may not always accurately represent reality, and success can be achieved even without relying heavily on them.
This quote emphasizes the idea that while models serve as useful tools for understanding complex systems, they are inherently flawed and oversimplified representations of reality. Peter Norvig suggests that in many cases, individuals can achieve success by embracing practical experience and intuition, rather than solely relying on theoretical models, which may not capture the nuances of real-world scenarios.
In practice
This quote can be used in a presentation about the limitations of scientific models in predicting climate change.
We're in very bad trouble if we don't understand the planet we're trying to save.
You will never find scientists leading armies into battle. You just wonβt. Especially not astrophysicists -we see the biggest picture there is. We understand how small we are in the cosmos. We understand how fragile and temporary our existence is here on Earth. We understand there are bigger problems we need to solve as a species than what God you pray to.
Everyone is trying to jump on the biomimic bandwagon. But a cork floor is not biomimicry. Neither is using bacteria to clean water.
Someday someone will write a pathology of experimental physics and bring to light all those swindles which subvert our reason, beguile our judgement and, what is worse, stand in the way of any practical progress. The phenomena must be freed once and for all from their grim torture chamber of empiricism, mechanism, and dogmatism; they must be brought before the jury of man's common sense.
There's no such thing as saying that we'll ever find the ultimate cause of stuff. We can only work to push our understanding one step further.
If you study science deep enough and long enough, it will force you to believe in God.
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