Feynman 'Fun to Imagine' 4: Magnets (and 'Why?' questions...)

Physicist Richard Feynman explains to a non-scientist just how difficult it is to answer certain questions in lay terms! A classic example of Feynman's clarity of thought, powers of explanation and intellectual honesty - and his refusal to 'cheat' with misleading analogies...
From the BBC TV series 'Fun to Imagine'(1983). You can now watch higher quality versions of some of these episodes at www.bbc.co.uk/archive/feynman/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• feynman
• science
• physics
• magnet
• physical
• law
• atom
• gravity
• electric
• explain
• truth
• fun
• ice
• enjoy
• 'insane
• clown
• posse'

[Moongazerr]

I think this is the best 240p video that I watched.

[KurosenvsGrither]

I transcribed this. Here you go:

lesswrong . com/r/discussion/lw/99c/transc­ript_richard_feynman_on_why_qu­estions/

[gotanmp3]

Or in other words, it would be like trying to explain something to the Amish by using a car analogy.

[mcmanhandles]

I am an engineering student, and he is sooooooo correct in the vid. It is impossible to understand without a big backround...People should get a little curious and try to understand something that takes more than ten seconds to grasp... Rather than singing FUCKIN MAGNETS, HOW DO THEY WORK? Yeah, search that phrase :/

[bdsnellable]

amazing for so many reasons

[peska2006]

Feynman was the embodiment of will.

[tostare]

I think he didn't know and was just bluffing. He probably looked it up in the encyclopedia afterwards.

[rhcquant]

@kwiss I agree. He diverted from the question. Feynman always believed that if he couldn't explain something properly to his dad (who was not a scientist), then he didn't understand it. One can only conclude that he doesn't really understand how magnetism works. Thing is, few do... especially in 1960s... I wager he was hedging his bets here because the Ising model was still a new thing.

[kwiss]

@Ektinstein yes,I obviously realize that and listened to the whole interview. Perhaps you should listen to the the interview again because you must have interpreted it wrong. Feynman's whole demeanor, diction, and tone are all extremely condescending. The guy asked a quesiton, and the platform for feynman's whole answer was only to assert how brilliant he is. Yeah, the guy was a great physicist and great mind, but he was certainly a prick. all of you fanboys cant see past his stature

[shawnhamman]

That man is one of the most awesome men ever. That is all.

[drpiddleton]

Great video. One of my favourites

[MightyDrunken]

@MissInformati0n Well he was a genius