The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge | Robbert Dijkgraaf

The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge | Robbert Dijkgraaf | Talks at Google

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Күн бұрын

Robbert Dijkgraaf, Director and Leon Levy Professor of the Institute for Advanced Study since 2012, is a mathematical physicist who has made significant contributions to string theory and the advancement of science education.
He is President of the InterAcademy Partnership, past President of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a distinguished public policy adviser and advocate for science and the arts.
Dijkgraaf introduces Abraham Flexner, the founding director of the Institute for Advanced Study, and his timeless 1939 essay. He shows that Flexner's defense of the value of "the unobstructed pursuit of useless knowledge" may be even more relevant today than it was in the early twentieth century. Dijkgraaf describes how basic research has led to major transformations in the past century and explains why it is an essential precondition of innovation and the first step in social and cultural change. He makes the case that society can achieve deeper understanding and practical progress today and tomorrow only by truly valuing and substantially funding the curiosity-driven "pursuit of useless knowledge" in both the sciences and the humanities.
Get the book here: goo.gl/t71SIf

Пікірлер: 50

@tedlemoine5587 6 жыл бұрын

This guy has several interesting talks on KZfaq. 18k views is a sad testament to our intellectual curiosity.

@artdonovandesign 5 жыл бұрын

Telling, isn't it?

@cotidianastandup644 4 жыл бұрын

very true

@3145mimosa 3 жыл бұрын

I did not expect much when I started listening to this talk (I have basically zero background of what he is doing). But this turns out to be a very interesting and inspiring talk that I learns a lot from it. Highly recommended.

@Robertbeloved 6 жыл бұрын

He is such a great speaker.

@KemptonLam 7 жыл бұрын

35:15 Albert Einstein crafted his quotes and would be great in our age of Twitter. 45:25 I love Robert telling his story of attending art school for two years.

@peterbeachy7986 6 жыл бұрын

The art school story was the best part of the talk, I think.

@djbabbotstown 2 жыл бұрын

Einstein would be cancelled by you lunatic authoritarian company.

@KemptonLam 2 жыл бұрын

@@djbabbotstown Einstein would have no Time nor Space for people who are rude to random strangers. Try contributing to human knownledge like the speaker is doing instead of spilling pointless poison.

@CHECK3R5 7 жыл бұрын

Empty chairs and very few views and likes. This is a very underappreciated talk, which is testament to the truth of its main theses, and its importance.

@sierranevadatrail 6 жыл бұрын

I agree, very underappreciated given it's quality, and it does not hurt that he appears to be very humble as well.

@greensombrero3641 5 жыл бұрын

Outstanding presentation. I have had the Harpers article on my desktop for years.

@itsanki 3 жыл бұрын

Only if you have an idea of difficult of problems of theoretical physics then you it will blow your mind the this guy initially studied art, like painting, and then he read a physics book in shop and got hooked. There is jox of X podcast with Robert where he talks about relationship between physics and art.

@AutumnDutch 7 жыл бұрын

This guy has given great lectures in Dutch too. Great guy!

@RobCoghanable 3 жыл бұрын

Never knew Flexner’s background, wonderful talk!

@artdonovandesign 5 жыл бұрын

An excellent presentation!

@topilinkala1594 2 жыл бұрын

The main trend in my lifetime (born 1960) that I've seen is miniaturization. And it has resulted many new inventions that would have been impossible without it. From handheld computers to drone cameras or even double decker train cars.

@Felidae-ts9wp 6 жыл бұрын

Great talk❗

@jamesgrey13 6 жыл бұрын

I know that my intimate and rigorously-obtained knowledge of the composition and dynamics of chipmunk flatulence will be useful, someday...

@beybrain7896 4 жыл бұрын

Ooh what is chipmunk flatulence? I’m curious! :3

@tomfreemanorourke1519 3 жыл бұрын

The biggest problem with research and experience is perpetually affected by the loss of interest due to peer and political pressure to conform to the social norm, the consensus trance which is akin to the inverse square law of interest reduction. The effort to construct something permanent yet flexible and revealing, has connotations that have exponential problems unseen, and as history shows us can and does enter frightening domains that become either secret or used as a weapon when science, research, art, discussion and patience mix with the dangerous scenarios of our humanity. Tom O'Rourke...1953 ...?..love always

@You7aRe7My7LivE 7 жыл бұрын

Is there any limitation regarding access to such events or do you have to be enrolled at mit/Harvard?

@voornaam3191 5 жыл бұрын

6:34 "the Calif...." there's a cut in this footage. How much, and what was cut out? I think Dijkgraaf started explaining that Isaac Newton and Bill Gates shared the very same apple.

@naught_ 4 жыл бұрын

This talk was very insightful. I'm currently a rising senior double majoring in neurobiology and physics. My plan since starting college has been to enter a PhD program and do research, but as I get closer and have been able to see firsthand just how much new research is "useless knowledge", I've been having doubts as to whether or not it's a path I really want to take. I'm still very far from deciding one way or another, but this talk was helpful in illustrating the idea of doing research to contribute to humanity as a whole for future generations, rather than just immediate relevance.

@itsanki 3 жыл бұрын

Please share, what have you decide and what insights you gained?

@davidwilkie9551 7 жыл бұрын

Research is the human equivalent of natural occurrence of shifting combinations resulting in evolutionary change. Better to learn by controlled experiments than the rare bit of serendipity. (?) The concept of position in dominance over quantity, that makes quality in artistic arrangements...? Looks like physics to me.

@helderboymh 6 жыл бұрын

@1:00 he is like Daenerys with his thousand and one titles

@DingBatDaniel 2 жыл бұрын

Great talk but have to say that what he refers to as "useless" knowledge are the building blocks of science....not what a normal person would describe as "useless knowledge"

@KrishnaHarish 7 жыл бұрын

👍👍👍

@Otalitek 7 жыл бұрын

❤️

@akshay8989 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you google

@DavidBrown-om8cv 3 жыл бұрын

"In cosmology we know that roughly 5% of the content of the universe is known ... there is still 95% to be discovered." Does string theory give a simple explanation of dark matter and dark energy? Is Milgrom the Kepler of contemporary cosmology? Google "10 problems with dark matter - pavel kroupa youtube".