from Frank Wilczek's Nobel (physics) lecture, 2004 ("Asymptotic Freedom")

[fflo]

In theoretical physics, paradoxes are good. That's paradoxical, since a paradox appears to be a contradiction, and contradictions imply serious error. But Nature cannot realize contradictions. When our physical theories lead to paradox we must find a way out. Paradoxes focus our attention, and we think harder.

Comments

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Not that I'm contributing anything to any ongoingly building knowledge of the species myself, or particularly intend to

I beg to differ. It strikes me that the only reason you can pay your rent/mortgage is because your boss can see that you are part of that "cooperating in the large" by making it possible for the mathematicians to keep track of whatever the hell the other mathematicians are up to. Which sounds exactly like you are contributing something to the ongoinglyfulness of building Human Knowledge.

I'm really in a similar position, trying to get a little science into a fresh wad of brains every term. No original contributions here, but I'm another cog the communications machine. Doing my little part to try to hold back the waters of deliberate ignorance.