I believe Fundamental research i.e. research into fundamental
fields WITHOUT a prior agenda (of solving a specific pre-determined problem) is
one of the, if not the, most important field we as mankind should be investing
in. It is only this kind of research that has the best chance to produce
solutions for problems that we currently face, and more importantly for new
problems we will face in the future.
We currently face several existential threats- climate change
being one of them. However, to think these will be the last existential threats
or that we know of all possible future existential threats would be naïve. Our
best defense against future unknown existential risks is again - fundamental
research - which helps us understand the nature of reality and in the process
come up with solutions for problems.
Iterative research or research with a specific goal in mind has its
place and is essential too. It is required to take a particular solution ahead
and better it e.g., once vaccines were invented, we needed iterative research
into vaccines to make them more efficient. But to come up with new solutions or
brand-new technologies we need fundamental research without a set practical goal.
For the vaccine example, we also need fundamental research into the workings of
viruses, genetics etc. and from there we can incorporate the appropriate
findings into iterative vaccine research. E.g., how MRA vaccines were
developed.
Since future problems are unpredictable, our best “defense” is
to understand reality as much as possible so that the solutions for specific
problems can be conjectured out of our understanding. Increasing our scientific
(as well as moral, political, philosophical) knowledge leads to better understanding
of reality and as a result, also leads to better tools to control reality – be it
for progress or for solving problems.
A few examples of fundamental research leading to world changing
solutions –
1. Einstein’s general
theory of relativity, amongst other things, led to satellites being possible
(including GPS). Einstein had none of these in mind when he was working on
incorporating gravity into special relativity. He was merely conducting
fundamental research for the sake of curiosity.
2. Fundamental
research into the properties of uranium in the early 19th century led
to nuclear power barely 4 decades later.
3. Research into
computation mathematics and theory of computation (Alan Turing) led to
computers, the internet and changed the world and economy for the better.
These are just a few examples. Problems that we face as mankind
are not going to stop. Some of there problems are created by us, while many of
them will arise without any input from us. Current climate change is driven by
us, but climate change happened in the planet’s history numerous times
(sometimes a lot more severe) without any input by us. There can be other
problems – asteroids approaching earth (which again happened at least once in
the past leading to the extinction of numerous dinosaur species), and again our
best bet is to invest in fundamental research. Which, as I have mentioned,
invariably leads to tools and technologies which might solve these problems.
(Credit to David Deutsch for bringing this to light in his talks)
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