A Good Bet Lost

Proper Attitudes in Science and Life

In #articles

clock

So I was sitting in the cafeteria the other day, and there was a clock which showed the wrong time and the second hand was being weird. I noted that the second hand was broken, and not advancing properly, and a student of mine said "No, the second hand is just advancing two seconds at a time, but it counting out the correct time." I looked briefly again, and it didn't seem that way, so I bet $1 (my highest bet).

Enthusiastically, we sat there for a minute or so, independently timing the clock and it turned out she was right and I was wrong. I happily handed over the $1, and was glad to know one fewer wrong thing in the universe. That is the attitude that we need to instill in our students, and in the public. Here are a few attitudes that we need to encourage:

  • it is good to be shown to be wrong, and one should be happy when it happens
  • it is good to update ones belief based on the evidence
  • it is good to actively look for ways to challenge your beliefs
  • it is good to put your money where your mouth is

If more of our politicians had this scientific attitude, the world would be a better place.