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![Douglas Adams](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/authors/1616277702i/4._UX200_CR0,15,200,200_.jpg)
“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
There is another theory which states that this has already happened.”
― The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
There is another theory which states that this has already happened.”
― The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
![Isaac Asimov](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/authors/1341965730i/16667._UX200_CR0,24,200,200_.jpg)
“We now know the basic rules governing the universe, together with the gravitational interrelationships of its gross components, as shown in the theory of relativity worked out between 1905 and 1916. We also know the basic rules governing the subatomic particles and their interrelationships, since these are very neatly described by the quantum theory worked out between 1900 and 1930. What's more, we have found that the galaxies and clusters of galaxies are the basic units of the physical universe, as discovered between 1920 and 1930.
...The young specialist in English Lit, having quoted me, went on to lecture me severely on the fact that in every century people have thought they understood the universe at last, and in every century they were proved to be wrong. It follows that the one thing we can say about our modern 'knowledge' is that it is wrong...
My answer to him was, when people thought the Earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the Earth was spherical they were wrong. But if you think that thinking the Earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the Earth is flat, then your view is wronger than both of them put together.
The basic trouble, you see, is that people think that 'right' and 'wrong' are absolute; that everything that isn't perfectly and completely right is totally and equally wrong.
However, I don't think that's so. It seems to me that right and wrong are fuzzy concepts, and I will devote this essay to an explanation of why I think so.
When my friend the English literature expert tells me that in every century scientists think they have worked out the universe and are always wrong, what I want to know is how wrong are they? Are they always wrong to the same degree?”
―
...The young specialist in English Lit, having quoted me, went on to lecture me severely on the fact that in every century people have thought they understood the universe at last, and in every century they were proved to be wrong. It follows that the one thing we can say about our modern 'knowledge' is that it is wrong...
My answer to him was, when people thought the Earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the Earth was spherical they were wrong. But if you think that thinking the Earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the Earth is flat, then your view is wronger than both of them put together.
The basic trouble, you see, is that people think that 'right' and 'wrong' are absolute; that everything that isn't perfectly and completely right is totally and equally wrong.
However, I don't think that's so. It seems to me that right and wrong are fuzzy concepts, and I will devote this essay to an explanation of why I think so.
When my friend the English literature expert tells me that in every century scientists think they have worked out the universe and are always wrong, what I want to know is how wrong are they? Are they always wrong to the same degree?”
―
![Terry Pratchett](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/authors/1235562205i/1654._UX200_CR0,38,200,200_.jpg)
“It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.”
― The Last Continent
― The Last Continent
![16548](https://images.gr-assets.com/groups/1328075794p1/16548.jpg)
Welcome to the Beyond Reality SF&F discussion group on GoodReads. In Beyond Reality, each of our members may nominate one SF and one fantasy book per ...more
![185](https://images.gr-assets.com/groups/1713666340p1/185.jpg)
Can't remember the title of a book you read? Come search our bookshelves and discussion posts. If you don’t find it there, post a description on our U ...more
![220](https://images.gr-assets.com/groups/1269147049p1/220.jpg)
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
![13824](https://images.gr-assets.com/groups/1428938229p1/13824.jpg)
This group is dedicated to an appreciation of important works of literature, both classic and contemporary... that happen to fall into the category of ...more
![1139](https://images.gr-assets.com/groups/1215881240p1/1139.jpg)
This Group explores scientific topics. We have an active monthly book club, as well as discussions on a variety of topics including science in the new ...more
Random’s 2023 Year in Books
Take a look at Random’s Year in Books. The good, the bad, the long, the short—it’s all here.
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