Alvin M. Weinberg Quote

The traditional working scientists are at the bottom rung — each one knows almost everything about almost nothing; as one progresses toward the top of the ladder, the subject matter becomes more abstract until one finally reaches the philosopher at the top who knows almost nothing about almost everything.


Reflections on Big Science, Chapter II (p. 47), The MIT Press. 1967


The traditional working scientists are at the bottom rung — each one knows almost everything about almost nothing; as one progresses toward the top ...

The traditional working scientists are at the bottom rung — each one knows almost everything about almost nothing; as one progresses toward the top ...

The traditional working scientists are at the bottom rung — each one knows almost everything about almost nothing; as one progresses toward the top ...

The traditional working scientists are at the bottom rung — each one knows almost everything about almost nothing; as one progresses toward the top ...