What good is it? << Where did this phrase come from?

[Adoniram]

I often see the phrase "What good is it?" pop up in defending (or attempting to defend) particle physics experiments. Does anyone know who said this, or where this anecdotal story comes from? I've heard conflicting stories about Farraday, or the discovery of the muon or neutrino...

The question is sometimes written "What's it good for?" or "What use is it?"

Thanks in advance!

 

[jedishrfu]

I don't think there's one person who's said this as it would be common to say when you not sure the invention or whatever has a worthwhile purpose. Sometimes this negativity inspires inventors to continue their quest other times not.

Another more attributable quote is : Something is Not Even Wrong first associated with Pauli of the Exclusion Principle fame for things that are not provable or just plain nonsense.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_even_wrong

 

[MalcolmB]

J J Thompson, who was credited with the discovery of the electron was reputed to have given the toast: -

"The electron: may it never be of any use to anybody"

How things have changed...

 

[Janus]

There is also the quote attributed to I. I. Rabi who, upon the discovery of the muon, a particle that had no role in nuclear interaction, said "Who ordered that?"

 

[symbolipoint]

I often see the phrase "What good is it?" pop up in defending (or attempting to defend) particle physics experiments. Does anyone know who said this, or where this anecdotal story comes from? I've heard conflicting stories about Farraday, or the discovery of the muon or neutrino...

The question is sometimes written "What's it good for?" or "What use is it?"

Thanks in advance!

This simple question is standard enough as standard English, that it should not really have a special origin.