Discovery Quote by Marshall McLuhan
“Erwin Schrodinger has explained how he and his fellow physicists had agreed that they would report their new discoveries and experiments in quantum physics in the language of Newtonian physics. That is, they agreed to discuss and report the non-visual, electronic world in the language of the visual world of Newton.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, 1964, discussion of interdisciplinary communication
McLuhan notes scientists translate abstract quantum concepts into familiar Newtonian terms for broader comprehension
In simple terms: Scientists use familiar language to explain complex ideas
Bridge complex ideas with familiar analogies
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- educational lectures
- science journalism
- public outreach
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the risks of oversimplifying science?
- How can we balance accuracy with accessibility?
Simplification can obscure nuance of meaning