Questions for May 2020

Sometimes you ask questions too early, sometimes too late. In the past, people have asked me not to post such questions, until it is too late. But I have managed to work around that, by not posting—only composting. It is like the difference between posing and composing.

1. “Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not” (Pablo Picasso). Explore this distinction with reference to two areas of knowledge.
2. “There is a sharp line between describing something and offering an explanation of it.” To what extent do you agree with this claim?
3. Does it matter that your personal circumstances influence how seriously your knowledge is taken?
4. “The role of analogy is to aid understanding rather than to provide justification.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
5. “Given that every theory has its limitations, we need to retain a multiplicity of theories to understand the world.” Discuss this claim with reference to two areas of knowledge.
6. “Present knowledge is wholly dependent on past knowledge.” Discuss this claim with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Haiku for Mendeleev #003 — Lithium

a lightness of stone
small cells powering machines
firstborn of metals