Richard Feynman <3 on 'thinking'.

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around Richard Feynman, his approach to thinking and learning in physics, and his influence on individuals' perceptions of the subject. Participants reflect on Feynman's background, his methods of study, and his impact on their own understanding of physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express admiration for Feynman's confidence and his assertion that ordinary people can achieve great understanding through hard study.
  • One participant notes Feynman's early exposure to electronics and hands-on learning as key factors in his development.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of formal education in physics, suggesting that Feynman's achievements were not solely based on casual reading or experimentation.
  • There is a mention of Feynman's strong visual imagination and mathematical skills as essential components of his success.
  • One participant shares their personal journey of discovering Feynman and how it positively influenced their relationship with physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the positive influence of Feynman and the components that contributed to his achievements, but there is no consensus on the best way to categorize discussions about physicists in the forum.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express confusion about the appropriate forum for discussions related to physicists, indicating a lack of clarity in forum organization.

Synapse
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Woops, just realized this thread has been moved :P In my mind 'feynmans a quantum guy so i'll stick this in the quantum section.' Silly me.

So anyway, hmm...does this forum have a section where 'scientists' are discussed. Maybe that will be a good place to put it.

I'm sure some people do like to discuss the bio of Einstein, Penrose, Maxwell...and all those.
 
The physics subforums, if you look at the existing topics in there, should contain only topics with actual physics content. All other discussion relating to ABOUT physics, physicists, history, sociology, philosophy, etc. do not being in those forums. Your thread has been moved to the General Discussion forum because this is where topics like that belong.

Zz.
 
ZapperZ said:
The physics subforums, if you look at the existing topics in there, should contain only topics with actual physics content. All other discussion relating to ABOUT physics, physicists, history, sociology, philosophy, etc. do not being in those forums. Your thread has been moved to the General Discussion forum because this is where topics like that belong.

Zz.

Sure. I havn't looked around much.
 
Synapse said:
At the beginning...WOW what a huge boost in confidence!

"You ask me if an ordinary person studying very hard would get to be able to imagine these things as I imgaine them? Of Course! I was an ordinary person who studied hard."

^.^

<3 I am in loveeeee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr8sVailoLw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHx00XG6-jU&feature=related

Hmm...you can't embed youtube videos on these forums?

Feynman had these things going for him: There was a lot of electronics in his house, so he knew the basics, and hands-on, from a young age.

He studied physics formally. He wasn't just reading his day's equivalent of New Scientist, or "A Brief History of Time", or making Tesla coils, or sticking gum-drops in the microwave, etc.

He had a good visual imagination.

He was good at math, and really worked at it.

He understood the fundamentals of parsimony. He could have had all the things above, and an IQ of 160, and still wound up a crank-theorist.

I think those were the essential (=must all be present) components of Feynman's achievements.
 
I first discovered Feynman around the beginning of last year. I had heard his name thrown around in places (Feynman diagrams, Parton model, etc.), but I began watching his lectures, and his interviews more and more and I was glad that I did. He definitely influenced my relationship with physics in a positive way. I wanted to meet him, but then I learned that he died over 20 years ago...
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
7K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 68 ·
3
Replies
68
Views
9K