Who Are Your Inspirational Figures in Science and Music?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around participants sharing their inspirational figures in the fields of science and music. It encompasses a variety of personal influences, including scientists, musicians, fictional characters, and even robots, highlighting the diverse sources of inspiration among members.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express admiration for Richard Feynman, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Sean Carroll for their contributions to science and their inspirational qualities.
  • Others mention Richard Dawkins and Ludwig Wittgenstein for their philosophical insights and impact on understanding nature and meaningful questions.
  • Several participants highlight musicians such as Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Lindsey Buckingham, and Mick Fleetwood as significant influences in their lives.
  • Lev Landau is noted for his broad contributions to various areas of physics, while some participants also mention personal figures like their mothers or professors as sources of inspiration.
  • Fictional characters like Sheldon Cooper and Dr. Manhattan are discussed, with participants relating to their traits or narratives.
  • Robots, specifically the Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, are mentioned as inspiring due to their perseverance and achievements.
  • Bertrand Russell, Carl Sagan, and Mikael Åkerfeldt are also cited, with some participants noting the lesser-known status of Åkerfeldt compared to more widely recognized figures like Brian May.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share a wide range of inspirational figures, but there is no consensus on a singular figure or theme, reflecting multiple competing views and personal preferences.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes a mix of personal anecdotes and references to both real and fictional figures, which may reflect individual experiences and interpretations rather than established consensus on inspirational figures.

theoristo
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My personal favorite is Feynman,for living inspirational icons it would be neil degrasse tyson or Sean Carroll because they're really really good or william dunham because of his book,what about you ,who inspires you?
 
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Richard Dawkins for giving me the only plausible answer to the question "Why am I here?" and a much deeper appeciation of nature, Ludwig Wittgenstein for helping me sort out which questions are worth asking and which are not.
 
Roger Waters and David Gilmour
 
I find Lev Landau inspiring. He contributed to many areas of physics. From solid state to fluid dynamics, and cryogenics to plasma physics!
 
Beavis and Butthead.
 
My Mom.
 
WannabeNewton said:
Beavis and Butthead.

Butt-Head: Hey Beavis. I bet when we get that reward money, we can like, see that movie about stiffies, and we can like, pay for our own tattoos.

Beavis: Yeah! Then we'll be cool.

Butt-Head: I'll get a tattoo of a butt.

Beavis: I'll get a tattoo of a butt *on* my butt!

Butt-Head: Oh yeah?

Beavis: Yeah!

Butt-Head: Well I'll get a tattoo of a butt that has a butt-shaped tattoo on it, and I'll get it right on my butt! That would be cool.

Beavis: [briefly pauses] Yeah, me too.

huhu uh uh
 
Pythagorean said:
Roger Waters and David Gilmour

from my musical perspective that would also be a yes for me. Tho I would have to add
Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood from Fleetwood Mac. I have always been really impressed by Lindsey's guitar style.

In the sciences field ... hmmmm, there's no one that really stands out. Over the many years there's been a lot of guys that have mentored me in audio and RF electronics. There were several lecturers at university during my geology studies I really looked up to. They just had an awesome teaching style. ( and of course there were some that were pretty bad!)

Dave
 
  • #10
WannabeNewton said:
Beavis and Butthead.

that's a bit of a worry WBN ;)

haha

D
 
  • #11
I think Waters and Gilmour even inspired me towards science by making me think about things in a deeper context. As far as scientists go, Henri Poincare is pretty far up there, probably Erdos too. I really like the polymaths.
 
  • #12
davenn said:
that's a bit of a worry WBN ;)

haha

D
:wink:
 
  • #13
One of my mathematics professors. He is my man-crush.
 
  • #14
Ray Bradbury
 
  • #15
Sherlock Holmes (Doyle's); Howard Roark (Rand's); Albert Einstein (From Ideas and Opinions); Madam Curie; Agatha Christie; Prometheus; The Universe...
 
  • #16
the sixth finger(1963) and dr. manhattan.
 
  • #17
Dr. Strangelove
 
  • #18
krash661 said:
the sixth finger(1963) and dr. manhattan.

Your obsession with Dr Manhattan almost equals mine with Sherlock Holmes...
Though I have to admit I did not like that movie- Darkness I can put up with but not with hopelessness.
 
  • #20
krash661 said:
the reason why I'm obsessed are in these descriptions,

dr. manhattan,
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0060115/bio

the sixth finger,
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0667848/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl

I have seen the movie. I liked Rorsach better. Probably because a) even he wasn't as hopeless as Manhattan was towards the end. b) manhattan's omnisensce scares me - I couldn't bear to wake up and realize there's nothing more to be learnt. c) Rorsach tells a great joke...
 
  • #21
Sheldon Cooper :D yes I know he is fictional but as I can relate to some aspects of the character, I feel asthough I should so in math / physics too.
 
  • #22
MathJakob said:
Sheldon Cooper :D yes I know he is fictional but as I can relate to some aspects of the character, I feel asthough I should so in math / physics too.

Well MJ if you can have a fictional character, I can have robots: the Mars Rovers! Especially Spirit and Opportunity :!). Their story actually makes me emotional :redface:. They inspire me with their "perseverance" and "courage", and how they exceeded all expectations. Yes, it's as if they had personalities.

Y'all know anthropomorphism, of course. My new word: anthro-robo-morphism :approve:.
 
  • #23
lisab said:
Well MJ if you can have a fictional character, I can have robots: the Mars Rovers! Especially Spirit and Opportunity :!). Their story actually makes me emotional :redface:. They inspire me with their "perseverance" and "courage", and how they exceeded all expectations. Yes, it's as if they had personalities.

Y'all know anthropomorphism, of course. My new word: anthro-robo-morphism :approve:.

I really should have added them to my list...
 
  • #24
MathJakob said:
Sheldon Cooper :D yes I know he is fictional but as I can relate to some aspects of the character, I feel asthough I should so in math / physics too.

Et tu MJ, then fall my ego.
I'm going to go and eat my hat...
*dips it into mayo*
(To anyone who doesn't have any idea what I am talking about: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=703676 watch me get pulverized here :o))
 
  • #25
Hendrix inspired me, and Robben Ford did, too, a generation later.
 
  • #26
After meeting Ford in person, I was less inspired, but still am in awe of his guitar skills.
 
  • #27
Bertrand Russel, Carl Sagan and Mikael Akerfeldt!
 
  • #28
ViolentCorpse said:
Bertrand Russel, Carl Sagan and Mikael Akerfeldt!

Willing to wager that most people wouldn't know the last guy. Those not into Opeth, that is. Luckily, I'm not one of those. :biggrin:

If, on the other hand, you'd mentioned Brian May, even PF-ers who were never into Queen's music might know the name, since he's a PhD in Astrophysics and all.
 
  • #29
Curious3141 said:
Willing to wager that most people wouldn't know the last guy. Those not into Opeth, that is. Luckily, I'm not one of those. :biggrin:

If, on the other hand, you'd mentioned Brian May, even PF-ers who were never into Queen's music might know the name, since he's a PhD in Astrophysics and all.

Haha It's great to see a fellow Opeth fan at PF! :biggrin:

Btw, I didn't know Brian May was a PhD in Astrophysics! :O
 

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