Are you more fascinated by...

... the things we know, or the things we don't know?

I was reading an editorial in the new Scientific American about the depth of human knowledge, and how it is growing at an exponential rate. I got to wondering, what is more interesting... the answers we have, or the questions we're asking? I usually tend to lean more toward the unknown, but I think convincing arguments can be made for either.


Examples of things we know (that fascinate me):

-Time is relative to the speed at which the observer is traveling at.
-The Earth (and moon) was probably formed by two planets crashing into each other.
-It is generally believed that there is a supermassive black hole at the center of most, if not all, galaxies.
-Dolphins create tribes, each of which is disctinctive, will not mate within its own ranks, and each have their own dialects and migration patterns.


Examples of things we don't know (that fascinate me):

-Why matter has mass. (also an article in the new SA)
-The greater implications of quantum physics (i.e., a literal interpretation of the current findings would indicate that our consciousness has an effect on subatomic particles)
-Whether or not life exists elsewhere in the universe.
-Does dark matter exist, and if it doesn't, where is the other 96% of the mass of the universe?
-99% of the earth's living space is under the surface of the ocean, and less than 10% of that space has been explored by humans. What's down there? (answer: hyperintelligent, demonic Sharktipus Lobbystrocities with magical powers)

I know most of my examples feature more of the scientific side of human knowledge, but obviously there are many other compelling knowns and unknowns in the worlds of history, politics, human psychology, etc.

So, what intrigues you?

The things we don't know.

Dark matter
Black holes
The deep ocean
Michael Jackson
Tom and Katie
Aliens

You could have shortened these three to read: "Aliens".

Damnit. You're right.

I am a weird person in the sense that I like not knowing what makes things tick. Like I like to look at a sunset, I don't want to know that it's pink and yellow because of volcanic ash particles in the air. It's one of the things I don't enjoy about being a "musician" I have a very hard time listening to music without mentally peeking into the clockwork.

How can I be cognitively aware of behaviors, yet unable to cognitively stop said behavior. I just can't choose to not behave in some ways. I have to condition myself with other behaviors.

Similiarly, how can a people, tribe, nation...knowing their history, previous actions, and previous consequences continue to repeat the same history, actions, and unfold the same consequences.

edit: oh yea, the Buhgina.

[Edited on Jun 23, 2005 by TBSheets]

I'm a dark matter freak so I'll have to go with the things we don't know.

I think there are "discoverers" and "appliers." Discovers are driven by a desire to understand the unknown. Once the discovery is made, they pass it on the the appliers, who figure out what to do with it.

Take computers, for instance. The early work on computability was done by mathematicians long before an actual machine was ever built; it was all purely theoretical. They were discoverers. Once all that was done, and a digital computer was actually built, the mathematicians became bored with the subject, for the most part. Those who didn't founded computer science, and became appliers.

Personally, I'm a discoverer. What intrigues me? To name a few:

The Goldbach Conjecture
The Riemann Hypothesis
Prime Numbers and Simple Groups

Though I have other fascinations than unsolved problems in mathematics, those three are on my mind at the moment.

Some known things that fascinate me are evolution through natural selection. I'm amazed by nature. I'm boggled by how Calculus can both be so simple and so complex. I'm fascinated by how things work. The music of Beethoven, Bach, and some others. So many things.

[Edited on Jun 23, 2005 by Sick]

I had never heard of these, thanks for the heads up.

No problem.