issue87 by linxz [Flamy July]

linxzUID: 2225479

87."In any field of inquiry, the beginner is more likely than the expert to make
important discoveries."

largely agree + minor disagree

a. beginners are more likely to question the classic conclusion and to repeat
classical experiments.

b. beginners are more energetic and curious, which is helpful in the research works.

c. yet, in some realms where highly experiences are required, it is hard for the
beginners to make significant contribution.


Who is more likely to make important discoveries in the intellectual inquiry,
the beginner or the expert? The speaker claims the former is. I fundamentally
with this broad contention, while some areas which require highly experienced
researchers might be exceptions.

Firstly, beginners tend to question the classic conclusions and methods.
Experts, who have already fulfill relative higher achievements in their field,
presumably build up their systematic perspectives of the field. Some of their
perspectives are widely accepted as classic ones. These results and methods, as
the kernel of one field, often receive few doubts from the community, especially
their founders - the experts. However, new comers, without much restrictions,
are always full of questions about the classic framework, since all the classic
rules means totally new for them. The challenge to fundamental principles often
gives rise to new discovery.

Galois, the great French mathematician, would furnish a good example. After only
five years study in mathematics, he creatively proposed the Group Theory to
provide uniform solution to high-power equations. Galois succeeded in address
the problem which had confused the mathematical community for several centuries
by introducing a brand new theory method and system. We can image that, if Galois
was equipped with so much previous works and results, the birth of Group Theory
might be, at best, largely delayed.

Moreover, the passion with research works usually serves as another key factor
of beginner's success. As beginners, they would be unaware of the overall
situation of the specific inquiry field, especially the difficulties in the
field. In fact, most beginners believe that sufficient efforts would ultimately
lead to significant discovery. Their simple intentions, together with their
energy, can imbue themselves with patience to bear thousands times of trial-and-
error. Therefore, great discoveries might emerge from the boring works. In
astronomy, the discoveries of many new planets attribute to the long-period and
continuous observation by beginners.

However, I also concede that in some fields, where the experience serves as a
critical factor of new discovery, it is hard for new comers to make meaningful
contributions. In these fields, every one has to encounter enough amount of
failures and frustration therefore can grow up. Such fields include electrical
engineering, medicine and architecture.

To sum up, generally speaking, beginners are more likely to make meaningful
contributions due to their intrepidity and passion. However, in some specific
realms where experience is highly ranked, most discoveries are from experts.

ann01UID: 2196411

不贴了,见附件:p