In 'The Crime of Reason,' physicist Robert B. Laughlin challenges the traditional views of science and philosophy, arguing that the true nature of reality is often obscured by our rigid reasoning. He delves into the interplay between imagination and reason, questioning how our pursuit of knowledge may inhibit creative thought. Through captivating anecdotes and profound insights, Laughlin exposes the limitations of rationality in understanding the complexities of the universe. This thought-provoking work invites readers to reconsider the foundations of scientific thought and the role of personal intuition. Prepare to embark on an intellectual journey that defies conventional wisdom and ignites the spark of curiosity.
By Robert B. Laughlin
Published: 2010
"In the pursuit of reason, we often find that the greatest crimes are the ones we commit against our own understanding."
We all agree that the free flow of ideas is essential to creativity. And we like to believe that in our modern, technological world, information is more freely available and flows faster than ever before. But according to Nobel Laureate Robert Laughlin, acquiring information is becoming a danger or even a crime. Increasingly, the really valuable information is private property or a state secret, with the result that it is now easy for a flash of insight, entirely innocently, to infringe a patent or threaten national security. The public pays little attention because this vital information is “technical”—but, Laughlin argues, information is often labeled technical so it can be sequestered, not sequestered because it's technical. The increasing restrictions on information in such fields as cryptography, biotechnology, and computer software design are creating a new Dark Age: a time characterized not by light and truth but by disinformation and ignorance. Thus we find ourselves dealing more and more with the Crime of Reason, the antisocial and sometimes outright illegal nature of certain intellectual activities. The Crime of Reason is a reader-friendly jeremiad, On Bullshit for the Slashdot and Creative Commons crowd: a short, fiercely argued essay on a problem of increasing concern to people at the frontiers of new ideas.
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“In the pursuit of reason, we often find that the greatest crimes are the ones we commit against our own understanding.”
The Crime of Reason
By Robert B. Laughlin
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Robert B. Laughlin is an acclaimed physicist and author best known for his contributions to the field of condensed matter physics and for being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1998. His notable works include 'A Different Universe: Reinventing Physics from the Bottom Down,' where he explores the fundamental nature of reality and challenges conventional scientific wisdom. Laughlin's writing style is characterized by clarity and accessibility, making complex scientific concepts understandable to a broader audience while maintaining a deep intellectual rigor.
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