One factor that has remained constant through all the twists and turns of the history of physical science is the decisive importance of the mathematical imagination.
Freeman DysonRead
The PhD system is the real root of the evil of academic snobbery. People who have PhDs consider themselves a priesthood, and inventors generally don't have PhDs.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The PhD system can create elitism in academia, elevating those with degrees above others, including inventors who lack such titles.
Freeman Dyson critiques the academic hierarchy established by the PhD system, suggesting it fosters a sense of superiority among PhD holders who deem themselves an exclusive group. This elitism can overshadow the contributions of talented inventors and thinkers who, despite lacking formal academic credentials, play a crucial role in innovation and creativity.
Themes
PhdAcademicSnobberyElitismInnovation
In practice
Example use cases
During a conference on educational reform, one could use this quote to emphasize the need for inclusivity in academia.
More from Freeman Dyson
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It's not going to be just humans colonizing space, it's going to be life moving out from the Earth, moving it into its kingdom. And the kingdom of life, of course, is going to be the universe.
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The bottom line for mathematicians is that the architecture has to be right. In all the mathematics that I did, the essential point was to find the right architecture. It's like building a bridge. Once the main lines of the structure are right, then the details miraculously fit. The problem is the overall design.
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For some days I quietly worked out in my own mind the metaphysics of Cosmic Unity. The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that it was the living truth. It was logically incontrovertible. It provided for the first time a firm foundation for ethics. It offered mankind the radical change of heart and mind that was our only hope of peace at a time of desperate danger. Only one small problem remained. I must find a way to convert the world to my way of thinking.
Freeman DysonRead
Similar quotes
The facilities for advanced education must be evened out and multiplied. No one who can take advantage of a higher education should be denied this chance. You cannot conduct a modern community except with an adequate supply of persons upon whose education, whether humane, technical, or scientific, much time and money have been spent.
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It is vital that when educating our children's brains that we do not neglect to educate their hearts.
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Nothing is more common than for men to think that because they are familiar with words they understand the ideas they stand for.
John Henry NewmanRead