Useless Knowledge? No Such Thing?
A Concise Case for an Open Mind
There's this idea that there's such a thing as "useless" knowledge. In my life, I've found that this leads me to incorrect predictions. Even the most out-there, theoretical pieces of knowledge or even "strange/undecipherable human behaviors" have their own nature which can be understood. The theoretical, abstract frameworks always precede their applications, even if by decades (evolution of the discipline of physics, for example). And, as we work to understand each other, we realize that even "irrational" human behaviors can be described when we have the right understanding of their perception of their own needs. This is the case for curiosity, for learning even "useless" things, and for making the most of every new piece of data you obtain. So maybe as long as you have the analytical tools, there's something to be gained with every piece of knowledge. Maybe we have blind spots when we avoid learning about certain things. Maybe it's worth it to put on a metaphorical Level A hazmat suit and dare to peer out of the face shield. Those are my thoughts while watching this video, although it's relatively incidental to its core theme.
The evidence seems to suggest that some of the world’s most revolutionary inventions, such as general relativity, tend to emerge from fields which were once considered abstract or useless.
One day I hope to examine these questions and try to formalize it and supply data. Is there consensus on the “uselessness of certain mathematics”? Is it valid to say that generally, the public is a poor predictor of what knowledge will turn into being “useful”? How do we prove these things with any rigor?
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