On Really Trying (2009)
This article explores the psychological barriers to scientific progress, drawing parallels between Zen philosophy and the challenges of overturning established physical theories. It argues that a lack of conviction and pragmatic motivation often prevents researchers from identifying flaws in existing scientific paradigms.
Why it matters
Understanding the cognitive biases of researchers is essential for fostering innovation and breakthroughs in fundamental physics.
politics , mental energy , willpower , small groups , transhumanism
The Programmers’ Credo: we do these things not because they are easy, but because we thought they were going to be easy
Student : How can one realize his Self-nature? I know so little about the subject.
Yasutani : First of all, you must be convinced you can do so. The conviction creates determination, and the determination zeal. But if you lack conviction, if you think “maybe I can get it, maybe I can’t”, or even worse, “This is beyond me!”—you won’t awaken no matter how much you do zazen. 1
When I came across this quote, I was struck by its relevance to one of Eliezer Yudkowsky’s ‘beisutsukai’ posts about finding the successor to quantum mechanics, “The Failures of Eld Science” .
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