- #1
wittgenstein
- 216
- 7
Most of the great minds in history have outrageously speculated and then found their great idea among the mass that they rejected.Why cannot what works for them work on a lesser scale work for us? I'm sure that some layman before Wegener noticed that the continents can fit together . If a great mind had listened and applied his greater knowledge to that information, perhaps continental drift could have been discovered years before it became a legitimate theory. Perhaps the ban on speculation is because of the fear that too much space will be devoted to speculations. But how much time does it take to scroll down to the next thread and ignore what may be a silly speculation? Also, I have found that allowing speculations in class actually facilitates learning.* Those classes that foster a belief that a student should only accept knowledge given by the instructor usually end up with students believing that science is boring. How can sitting at a desk writing down notes from a lecture facilitate real involvement with the learning process?
* I am thrilled when a student 'contradicts" me and politely asks," but if that is so, then why this data?" or even," perhaps this is an alternative explanation." I do not take his/her comments as saying that I do not have a grasp of my subject.
* I am thrilled when a student 'contradicts" me and politely asks," but if that is so, then why this data?" or even," perhaps this is an alternative explanation." I do not take his/her comments as saying that I do not have a grasp of my subject.
Last edited: