Great Minds: Richard Feynman - The Uncertainty Of Knowledge

Playlist "Great Minds, Great Words":

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Richard Feynman (1918-1988) was an American physicist known for his work in the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, the theory of quantum electrodynamics and the physics of the superfluidity of supercooled liquid helium, as well as in particle physics (he proposed the parton model).

For his contributions to the development of quantum electrodynamics, Feynman, jointly with Julian Schwinger and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965. He developed a widely used pictorial representation scheme for the mathematical expressions governing the behavior of subatomic particles, which later became known as Feynman diagrams. During his lifetime, Feynman became one of the best-known scientists in the world.

He assisted in the development of the atomic bomb and was a member of the panel that investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. In addition to his work in theoretical physics, Feynman has been credited with pioneering the field of quantum computing, and introducing the concept of nanotechnology (creation of devices at the molecular scale). He held the Richard Chace Tolman professorship in theoretical physics at the California Institute of Technology.

Feynman was a keen popularizer of physics through both books and lectures, notably a 1959 talk on top-down nanotechnology called "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom" and "The Feynman Lectures on Physics". Feynman also became known through his semi-autobiographical books ("Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" and "What Do You Care What Other People Think?") and books written about him, such as "Tuva or Bust!"

He was regarded as an eccentric and free spirit. He was a prankster, juggler, safecracker, proud amateur painter, and bongo player. He liked to pursue a variety of seemingly unrelated interests, such as art, percussion, Maya hieroglyphs, and lock picking.

Feynman also had a deep interest in biology, and was a friend of the geneticist and microbiologist Esther Lederberg, who developed replica plating and discovered bacteriophage lambda. They had several mutual physicist friends who, after beginning their careers in nuclear research, moved for moral reasons into genetics, among them Leó Szilárd, Guido Pontecorvo, and Aaron Novick.

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[therealzilch]

"I don't feel frightened by not knowing things."

Inspirational.

[cthompson]

The most brilliant Feynman quote in this video: "It’s much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong".

[TerraFirma]

"Doubt is an unpleasant condition, but certainty is absurd"
-Voltaire

[rosh]

Everytime I listen to Richard Feynman, I'm mesmerized by his intellect, reasoning and eloquence. This guy is GOLD! Pity he left this planet too early.

[daithiocinnsealach]

"I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing, than to have answers which might be wrong."

[JohnHill]

He's exactly like I imagined he would be like after reading his book

[shandesofgreen]

Dude. Toss the music. Professor Feynman does not need background music. His words resonate reasoning. When you have such a high caliber intellectual speak and have background 'fill' music it cheapens the experience.

[AbhikChakraborty]

"It's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong."
- Richard Feynman

[colourmegone]

One of my favourite Feynman quotes comes from lecture he gave to a science class. It was a brief segment of a documentary about his life and work but it has stuck with me ever since. "In science", he said vehemently, "you only ever know if you're wrong!". The class burst out laughing but he was deadly serious.

[arnehanna]

There appears to be an orchestra playing in his kitchen.

[rays]

I love listening to this guy! A gift to humanity.

[spudhead]

"I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of certainty about different things. But I'm not absolutely sure about anything."


Pretty much the definition of a good scientist.

[AndrewUnruh]

Love how he could think so abstractly and yet keep his feet so firmly rooted in the ground.

[Muse]

I'm a Christian but there is a lot to admire in this man's agnosticism. He had the spirit of a true poet as exemplified by the poem/equation he wrote after his first wife died. "I love my wife - my wife is dead." He loved her against all common sense and what was good for him, even after she had died. Takes a lot of courage to be a Richard Feynman.

[gavintoohey]

As a student, I tend to worry about all the things I don't know. Instead I should embrace the unknown as Feynman does. Thank you so much for this cool video.

[willo]

The world needs many more like Mr. Feynman.

[rick]

This man, along with Carl Sagan and a few more people, is succeeding in the impossible task of making me enjoy physics, my everlasting nightmare back in high school!

[BenRied]

What a gift to the world this man was. And what a Great loss to loose him. You will always be remembered Richard! Im truly grateful for these interviews amd videos!

[AndroidGamingrepublic]

I haven't seen a greater mathematician, I haven't seen a greater physicst, I haven't seen a greater thinker.. Feynman hats off🌳🌲🌳

[robinkumar]

The pleasure of finding things and not feeling frightened of not knowing things, thanks for sharing this .