Stuart Firestein: The pursuit of ignorance

What does real scientific work look like? As neuroscientist Stuart Firestein jokes: It looks a lot less like the scientific method and a lot more like "farting around ... in the dark." In this witty talk, Firestein gets to the heart of science as it is really practiced and suggests that we should value what we don't know -- or "high-quality ignorance" -- just as much as what we know.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.

[sheilalopez]

I had a teacher who used to tell me "you don't have to know it, you just have to remember it". She'd yell at me because I wanted to learn. She'd always give me bad grades when all I wanted was to learn. She would never answer my questions. Now I think that maybe she didn't know the answers.

[dell]

The more I learn the more I realize how much i don't know.

I'm in my mid 70's and have been reading journals and books since junior high but my ignorance is growing faster than my knowledge is.

[obermeierro]

This is one of the best talks I've heard. What a challenge to everyone in education to help learners move to where their ignorance is and explore. A great challenge to how we evaluate progress in individuals.

[stephenjablonsky]

When I first became a college professor I was immediately aware of how little I actually knew. Over a very long career I attempted to rectify that deficiency. The end result was that I came to appreciate that I knew almost nothing compared to what can be known. I'm OK because I have always enjoyed the questions more than the answers.

[monikamitchell]

I love professors who are not demeaning and who strive to get people to learn more. Wonderfully put while making my own brain expand one smidge more!

[jennifer]

I can't even begin to say how much I LOVE this. I am studying to be a child psychologist and I have used this amazing, wonderful doctor/scientist's work and talks a lot to learn from. He is spot on with how kids really need to and should be taught in schools!

[richardc]

A question never gets old. There's always a fresh new mind to listen.

[faza]

Dr Firestein is a wise teacher, a sage.
Passionate love of learning is indeed a rare trait especially as it is necessary for solving global problems with repercussions also for personal happiness.

Given the state of societies: family breakdown, environmental degradation affecting health, poor governance etc by whom & where will these fires be lit?
Ted Talks keep my fires stoked!

[SerkoCarels]

An educated man knows the extent of his education; a wise man knows the extent of his ignorance ❤️

[richardowensnr]

Brilliant, nails it perfectly, the closer we look at anything only raises more questions. period.

[RobSinclaire]

Excellent! Also: I would like to acknowledge the high standard of production values that TED Talks consistently achieves (sound, lighting, staging, camera work etc.) in your presentations - these are a great compliment to the quality of the content and subject matter at hand. Thank you very much!

[MrJustSomeGuy]

"We live on an island surrounded by a sea of ignorance. As our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance"

- John Archibald Wheeler

[supremereader]

"Education is not about filling buckets, it's about lighting fires." awesome

[richard-fymu]

Love it. My great concern is when we regard science as unchallengeable. Conclusions, methodologies, etc. must be constantly challenged to avoid the trap of ignorance. I told one class the most threatening idea is expressed as "Why?" Ask ask again even G-d answers an honest why.

[CareyPortnoyBeauford]

"Here's the answer, what's the next question".. I love this. A great test question, very open ended. Make the kids think!!

[jayaet]

I observed an insect, about 10mm long, on my kitchen window a few days ago. Firstly, it very thoroughly wiped its head with its minute forelimbs, then with the second set of legs it cleaned it’s mid- body and then, with the rear set, it went on to clean its wings. Clearly satisfied with the result, it flew off. When I see something like that it really makes me aware of our infancy in scientific understanding. The complexity of even such a minute creature is absolutely astonishing. We humans are on the road and making progress towards finding answers to our scientific curiosity but on a macro scale we are still somewhere at the beginning. Worryingly, asking scientifically and factually based questions today is a thing that seems to be going out of fashion. Belief is presently getting the upper hand once again, in our various cultures and societies and if nothing else, belief is very comforting. Something which science is not.

[HenyMustikasari]

This teaches me a lot of thing while smiling and questioning myself. Amazing talks!

[gregchambers]

I'm an electrician, applied physicist if you will. Knowledge is great but more importantly it's what you are using it for to make the world a better place. I can't answer how many lives I've saved but what disturbs me is how many I've saved that I shouldn't have. Our work must be based on certainty, but occasionally we get into what the wise professor longs for, and what we long for; a situation or condition that exceeds our present capability; the unknown.

[WorldCollections]

Brilliant talk! Although the loads of information and its controversial edge left the audience somewhat stunned.  As a graduate student I agree, examinations are basically weeding out.  I've always argued that examination styles should be as diverse as possible to prevent 'selecting' for a particular mind set.

[jmhatutube]

I absolutely loved this. I was an abject failure in school. All I cared about in high school was my rock band and chasing girls. I have since earned my master's in Information Systems but earning that, and my bachelors, has made me realize that I may have a learning disorder. I got good grades, but I still struggle reading the information that I want. I wish I could learn more about everything.

I have 3 sons that are devout scientists. My doctor son actually liked organic chemistry. I've obviously never taken it but everyone I've ever known who has disliked it immensely. This video has opened my mind so much to my son's attitudes that it was very funny in many parts. They are all still young. My oldest is 32. But my doctor son is full of doctor arrogance. He'll rattle off his medical jargon, but when his computer doesn't work right he wants to throw it out the window. That's where I come in.

Thank you Dr. Firestein for this wonderful talk. I've always felt that we have vast oceans to (of ignorance) to learn. This has only solidified my thoughts.