Freeman Dyson

[cema]

[...] the experts who talk publicly about politically contentious questions tend to speak more clearly than they think.

This is called "heretical thoughts", but there is nothing heretical about it, just common sense and experience. (Am I quoting Bulgakov here? Just as well.)

I think his discussion of naturalistic versus humanistic ethic is also important, perhaps more important for the general public, not just scientists. But I wonder: does he sound old-fashioned?

Update. And now, the New York Times, Inconvenient Truth.

Dyson’s own wife, Imme, who, after seeing the film in a local theater with Dyson when it was released in 2006, looked at her husband out on the sidewalk and, with visions of drowning polar bears still in her eyes, reproached him: “Everything you told me is wrong!” she cried.

Don't know if this is true, but if it is, it is a remarkable piece of foolery on her part. Trusting others over your family, trusting a politician and propagandist over a scientist. But I am not sure this is the way it happened: I do not trust NYT that much.

Update. New York Times again (Tierney Lab this time), Tragedy Is Not Our Freeman Dyson's Business.

Comments

Narrative and facts

[trurle.livejournal.com]

. But I am not sure this is the way it happened: I do not trust NYT that much.
NYT описывает в данном случае не реальное поведение, а предписанное; совершенно не важно что там было на самом деле.

[calypso72]

Uh, if David or any other member of my family of scientists told me global warming was a hoax, I wouldn't believe them either.

[cema.livejournal.com]

You are a scientist too.

[calypso72]

Even if I wasn't - there is a preponderance of evidence.

[cema.livejournal.com]

There is a preponderance of evidence that David is smart and knowledgeable. So we have, uh, two preponderances pitched against each other. :-)

just a remark

[clittary-hilton.livejournal.com]

Dyson paraphrases the clever admonition by Niels Bohr (can be found in his co-authors' reminiscences):

Never express yourself more clearly than you think !

I find this profound when applied to theoretical physicists (who think) but somewhat shallow in connection with politicians (who don't)...

[cema.livejournal.com]

They all do, but they work in different frameworks and therefore under different methodologies.

And when we talk about the global warming, very little is clear. (But a lot is being said.)

[clittary-hilton.livejournal.com]

I agree about global warming, but that is pseudoscience!