Slashdot Mirror


Elon Musk's 'Scientific Method' (rollingstone.com)

From a new wide-ranging interview of Elon Musk: An unfortunate fact of human nature is that when people make up their mind about something, they tend not to change it -- even when confronted with facts to the contrary. "It's very unscientific," Musk says. "There's this thing called physics, which is this scientific method that's really quite effective for figuring out the truth." The scientific method is a phrase Musk uses often when asked how he came up with an idea, solved a problem or chose to start a business. Here's how he defines it for his purposes, in mostly his own words:
1. Ask a question.
2. Gather as much evidence as possible about it.
3. Develop axioms based on the evidence, and try to assign a probability of truth to each one.
4. Draw a conclusion based on cogency in order to determine: Are these axioms correct, are they relevant, do they necessarily lead to this conclusion, and with what probability?
5. Attempt to disprove the conclusion. Seek refutation from others to further help break your conclusion.
6. If nobody can invalidate your conclusion, then you're probably right, but you're not certainly right.

4 of 240 comments (clear)

  1. Step 0 by taustin · · Score: 1, Funny

    Get billions of dollars in taxpayer funded subsidies for something that nobody in their right mind would invest their own money in.

  2. Re:The Scientific Method is outdated by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Oh, shut up snowflake. Waah! Waah! Do you need someone to protect you from those mean, nasty women and their differing worldview?

  3. Re:The Scientific Method is outdated by Aboroth · · Score: 4, Funny

    More like:

    1. Decide the answer you want.
    2. Ask a leading question.
    3. Find a comfortable echo chamber that gives you the answer you want.
    4. Don't look at sources. If you do by accident, ignore their validity and nuance.
    5. Shout "fake news" if you accidentally see facts that challenge your pre-decided views, especially when unedited and with all relevant context included.

  4. Re:The Scientific Method is outdated by spun · · Score: 4, Funny

    This makes no sense whatsoever, your trolling brings dishonor to Mother Russia. Report to the gulag for reeducation, comrade.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton