Long Quote by Werner Heisenberg
“One may say that in a state of science where fundamental concepts have to be changed, tradition is both the condition for progress and a hindrance. Hence, it usually takes a long time before the new concepts are generally accepted.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Philosophy of Science, 1950s
When foundational ideas shift, tradition can both support and impede scientific progress, causing slow adoption of new concepts.
In simple terms: Tradition can help or hinder new science.
Balance respect for tradition with openness.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research labs
- academic curricula
- policy making
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate when to challenge tradition?
- What mechanisms speed up acceptance of new ideas?
Overcoming entrenched biases can be difficult.