> "Galileo and Darwin are famous examples of this phenomenon, but it's probably always an ingredient in the resistance to new ideas."
The problem with this logic is that for every Galileo and Darwin, there are thousands of crackpots out there. Every month or so I see some news about engines that run on water as fuel.
As Walter Kotschnig said: "Let us keep our minds open, by all means, as long as that means keeping our sense of perspective and seeking an understanding of the forces which mould the world. But don’t keep your minds so open that your brains fall out!"
The problem is, it's not obvious a priori which ideas are crackpot and which ideas are hidden gems. (The infamous comparison being Newton's passion for theology and alchemy in addition to calculus and physics; it's not obvious he would have made his accomplishments in the latter, without being the kind of person willing to invest time in the former.)
I think the right strategy is to acknowledge that such pursuits are proverbial moon-shots, setting expectations and risk tolerance accordingly. Most innovations fail, and that's okay; "the best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas".
The problem with this logic is that for every Galileo and Darwin, there are thousands of crackpots out there. Every month or so I see some news about engines that run on water as fuel.
As Walter Kotschnig said: "Let us keep our minds open, by all means, as long as that means keeping our sense of perspective and seeking an understanding of the forces which mould the world. But don’t keep your minds so open that your brains fall out!"