Thread: The Specializations of Humans

It was said that humans keep specializing in smaller and smaller things. For example, we first began pondering our evolution which we are still doing. We then went smaller and smaller. Molecules, atoms, electrons, quarks...strings.
Now, one person said that humans will eventually know everything about nothing.
I partially agree...yet disagree since we are now looking into the smaller parts of bigger things (e.g. black holes.) And what REALLY interests me is if we will ever find answers to those few "BIG" questions we wonder about:
-"Ultimate String Theory"
-Our Evolution
-Cure for Cancer, AIDS, etc.

& etc.

If so, will we find new things to wonder about or will we be done with science? This was all in a book I just read, so I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts.

Looking simply at the field I am currently studying, psycholoy (and more specifically, cognitive/biological psychology) I can honestly say that I don't think we will ever stop finding stuff to investigate.

If not because the universe is just so big, it'll be because the universe is so dynamic. Only the top 5% of the Netherlands (and I assume this is true for the rest of the world) attends a university, so there is a very limited amount of people suited for (and interested in) doing research.
Even if we reach a certain point where our knowledge of the universe is almost complete, the universe, and many of its elements will have changed insofar that we will be able to describe the nature and changes occuring.

You mentioned evolution. Because of our short lifespans, evolution seems as something that has stopped, and we are no longer evolving. However, to something as great and timeless as science, evolution will continue, and we will be able to track it, and research it.

I believe the universe to be an endless pit of research not because of its depth, but rather because of its vicissitude.

Mr U

In physics, each answer we find gives us the language, understanding and framework in which to ask a thousand new questions. That is what happened when we discovered quantum mechanics and relativity. A breakthrough in the area of unified field theory will just be the beginning not the end. Theories on this level provide more of a language in which to ask the right question rather than giving us all the answers.

since no one human can know everything there is always room for pondering of things unknown to them even if it is known to another.

science as the quest for knowlege and understanding is not just a group effort.

Unless our brains grow in complexity by several orders of magnitude I doubt our ability to understand the really difficult questions and no chance of understanding the answers.

But it's fun trying.

Originally Posted by Ophiolite

Unless our brains grow in complexity by several orders of magnitude I doubt our ability to understand the really difficult questions and no chance of understanding the answers.

But it's fun trying.

You really have said it all, can I add as a complete novis, but have experienced in all things I have any knowledge of, the old saying

“The more you know the more you realise you don’t know”
I agree its corny but so so true

Originally Posted by HomoUniversalis

Only the top 5% of the Netherlands (and I assume this is true for the rest of the world) attends a university, so there is a very limited amount of people suited for (and interested in) doing research.

Amazing! I thought this 5% would be a little higher for such a country as the Netherlands.

Oh well... here in Guatemala we're less than 1%, I guess 5% isn't so bad.

Originally Posted by Cuete

Originally Posted by HomoUniversalis

Only the top 5% of the Netherlands (and I assume this is true for the rest of the world) attends a university, so there is a very limited amount of people suited for (and interested in) doing research.

Amazing! I thought this 5% would be a little higher for such a country as the Netherlands.

Oh well... here in Guatemala we're less than 1%, I guess 5% isn't so bad.

Oh, it's a statistic I picked up from one of the professors (psychology), so it might be wrong, or specifically of psychology :P

But yeah, even we have a lot of dumb people :P (j/k)

Mr U