I’m not sure this is exactly the same thing, but it’s probably related:
The way people sometimes… creatively misunderstand… various fields of endeavor.
Think along the lines of quantum mysticism stuff and the way that Godel’s theorem is abused by religious types. (not to mention the ye olde “but the second law of thermodynamics proves you can’t have evolution” that they love to trot out)
I’m not sure this is exactly the same phenomenon, but it does seem to be part of a larger “creative misunderstanding of another’s position to somehow support my own” thing.
Actually, just remembered one I saw that was almost painful.
I don’t remember the exact quote, but it went something like this:
“I don’t really know anything at all about quantum mechanics, but I believe it does prove the truth behind the ancient eastern wisdom.” (or something to that effect)
I’m pretty sure the person who said that was being serious.
My first thought was obviously “but… if you don’t actually know anything about it, and you know you don’t know, then why do you...”
I had a similar experience with a friend of mine who admired Thomas Mann. And, well, science was not his strong point:
He: ” I just finished the Magic Mountain and I believe Thomas Mann anticipated Einstein’s theory of relativity!”
Me: ” Äh, what...”
He: ” On one page he writes about how the watch hands divide the space of the clock-face into several areas! He anticipated that space and time are related!!”
And just in case: Mann started writing ” Magic Mountain” in 1912.
I’m not sure this is exactly the same thing, but it’s probably related:
The way people sometimes… creatively misunderstand… various fields of endeavor.
Think along the lines of quantum mysticism stuff and the way that Godel’s theorem is abused by religious types. (not to mention the ye olde “but the second law of thermodynamics proves you can’t have evolution” that they love to trot out)
I’m not sure this is exactly the same phenomenon, but it does seem to be part of a larger “creative misunderstanding of another’s position to somehow support my own” thing.
Actually, just remembered one I saw that was almost painful.
I don’t remember the exact quote, but it went something like this:
“I don’t really know anything at all about quantum mechanics, but I believe it does prove the truth behind the ancient eastern wisdom.” (or something to that effect)
I’m pretty sure the person who said that was being serious.
My first thought was obviously “but… if you don’t actually know anything about it, and you know you don’t know, then why do you...”
I had a similar experience with a friend of mine who admired Thomas Mann. And, well, science was not his strong point: He: ” I just finished the Magic Mountain and I believe Thomas Mann anticipated Einstein’s theory of relativity!” Me: ” Äh, what...” He: ” On one page he writes about how the watch hands divide the space of the clock-face into several areas! He anticipated that space and time are related!!”
And just in case: Mann started writing ” Magic Mountain” in 1912.
Ouchies.