There are lots of things I don't understand - say, the…
““There are lots of things I don't understand - say, the latest debates over whether neutrinos have mass or the way that Fermat's last theorem was (apparently) proven recently. But from 50 years in this game, I have learned two things: (1) I can ask friends who work in these areas to explain it to me at a level that I can understand, and they can do so, without particular difficulty; (2) if I'm interested, I can proceed to learn more so that I will come to understand it. Now Derrida, Lacan, Lyotard, Kristeva, etc. -- even Foucault, whom I knew and liked, and who was somewhat different from the rest -- write things that I also don't understand, but (1) and (2) don't hold: no one who says they do understand can explain it to me and I haven't a clue as to how to proceed to overcome my failures. That leaves one of two possibilities: (a) some new advance in intellectual life has been made, perhaps some sudden genetic mutation, which has created a form of "theory" that is beyond quantum theory, topology, etc., in depth and profundity; or (b) ... I won't spell it out.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Understanding complex ideas requires asking experts and personal effort; some theories remain inaccessible.
In simple terms: Ask experts and study to grasp complex topics; some stay opaque.
Key Takeaway
Seek explanations and persist in learning.
Themes
learning
expertise
complexity
Mood
inquisitive
analytical
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic research
- self‑education
- technical training
Key Concepts
knowledge acquisition
intellectual humility
communication
Questions to Reflect On
- Which topics do you find most opaque?
- How do you decide when to seek help?
A Different Perspective
Not all subjects become clear despite effort.