We live on an island surrounded by a sea of ignorance. As our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance.

John Wheeler died yesterday - I nearly got tears in my eyes reading this tribute: http://cosmicvariance.com/2008/04/13/goodbye/

I’m sadder than I can quite understand about this. Partly because of the tribute, and partly probably because of the part of me that still hasn’t grieved the loss of my dream of science. What it describes here is the inspiration, wonder and excitement of research is the reason I went into physics in the first place.

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Something I have had long discussions about, with several close friends who tend to be on the other side of the argument. Seems the topic is warm again!

are new mathematical truths discovered or invented? http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/31392/title/Still_debating_with_Plato

If anyone cares I’m squarely on the invented side of the argument.

I don’t buy the concept of absolute ideas that are somehow in a different sphere - and I dont buy the challenge which says that it is proven wrong by the fact that so many different people and cultures come up with the same concepts.

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