mukund shyam

The fundamental principle of modern science is ignoramus.

Every aspect of science is governed by this principle; meaning that we don’t know anything. Only if we approach everything with the thought that we don’t know anything about it can our thoughts on it evolve.

Our interpretation of science has only changed because a few individuals were willing to disprove everything we know. They were willing to think that they don’t know anything, and they were willing to throw everything they knew out the window.

In the Renaissance period, if it wasn’t for Copernicus we would still believe that the Earth is the centre of the universe.

If it wasn’t for Newton, we would have never figured out why that apple fell down.

And if it wasn’t for Einstein, we would never know about quantum mechanics, disproving everything Newton suggested.

Only if we are willing to question our beliefs can those beliefs change. After all, the spirit of enquiry is a fundamental Renaissance thought process for a reason.

It seems to me that no one is willing to break out of status quo. We’re all comfortable with how the world works now.

My parents have told me that half knowledge is not good in any way, shape or form.

Half knowledge seems to be something that’s really common in teenagers, trying to figure out their own beliefs on certain topics. Maybe that’s a bad thing, maybe it’s not.

Little kids never fight the belief that the Earth is round, and neither do adults; but for totally different reasons. Little kids don’t fight that belief because they don’t feel the need to even have a belief, and adults don’t fight that belief because they know why the Earth is round, and what evidence we have to prove it. Teenagers, being somewhat in between these two groups, are a lot more vulnerable to believe that the Earth is flat.

This leads to conspiracy theories becoming super common in teenagers. I don’t blame them, as everyone’s reality is different (especially in the age of the Internet) but it is extremely dangerous as legitimately unsafe theories like the COVID vaccines don’t work spread.

I don’t think there’s anything really wrong in believing different things; there’s only something wrong with choosing a belief and sticking to it. Everyone should have an evolving thought process.

Maybe half knowledge is dangerous after all.

Teenagers tread the fine line between scientific mind and stubborn mind. To evolve one’s beliefs is the only way one can survive in this rapidly changing world.

Thanks for reading.