1/ Sharing an interesting observation from Frank Wiltzeck's book "Fundamentals."
In the 17th Century, while the entire scientific
world was pre-occupied with planetary motion and other
grand questions of philosophy, Galileo made careful studies of simple forms of motion, e.g.,
In the 17th Century, while the entire scientific
world was pre-occupied with planetary motion and other
grand questions of philosophy, Galileo made careful studies of simple forms of motion, e.g.,
2/ how balls roll down an inclined plane and how pendulum oscillate. To most of Galileo's contemporaries such measurements must have appeared trivial, if not irrelevant, to their speculations on how the world works. Yet Galileo aspired to a different kind of understanding.
3/ He wanted to understand something precisely, rather than everything vaguely. Ironically, it was Galileo's type of understanding that enabled Newton's theory of gravitation to explain "how the world works".
What do I mention it? Because we have had lengthy
discussions here
What do I mention it? Because we have had lengthy
discussions here
4/4 about the virtues of "toy problems," and
the contempt with which economists (and others) view such problems (see ucla.in/36EoNzO). I still maintain that the kind of understanding gained by solving our "toy problems" is essential for next generation causal inference.
the contempt with which economists (and others) view such problems (see ucla.in/36EoNzO). I still maintain that the kind of understanding gained by solving our "toy problems" is essential for next generation causal inference.
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