Quote

Caltech seems to have an ongoing love affair with one of the hottest physicists, ever: Richard Feynman. Nary a Caltech publication is printed without some mention of Feynman. Understandably, since the man was not only brilliant but s-e-x-y and, towards the end of his life, he was downright dashing. I have yet to meet a female physicist who didn't have a preference for Feynman, so it makes sense that Caltech really hasn't gotten over losing him.

In honor of Caltech and their heartbreak I give you a quote from Feynman:

Physics is like sex. Sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it.

How could you not love the man?

Comments

[Michael Bremner]

That's a great quote.

Have you seen over at The Quantum Pontiff there is a debate going on about who was a bigger genius, Feynman or Dirac?

[Caolionn]

Thanks for telling me about it. I had almost missed that post - I've been behind on my blog reading, new job and all. Knowing my preference, I would heartily agree with Dave, but on more superficial grounds.

[Sara]

You know, being an ex-physicist, I never got the Feynman-hype. The guy was probably brilliant and what not, but whenever I read his non-science books, the words " arrogant w-a-n-k-e-r" come to my mind. And I get the distinct feeling that I definilely wouldn't have liked the man, to phrase it kindly. No sex-appeal for me there whatsoever.

[m.visaya]

destination: raster duck!

[Caolionn]

Sara: I can definitely see the "arrogant w-a-n-k-e-r" point of view, but can you imagine a wildly successful physicist (or any professional for that matter) that isn't? I was picking him more from a pool of his peers, who I assume all skate the line of arrogant wanker, so the dashing aspect won me over. But perhaps I making assumptions, maybe there exists a "genius"-caliber physicist who is shockingly kind and self-effacing. Maybe?

But you have destroyed my theory, nonetheless. Drat.

[Sara]

I'm so sorry for destroying your theory! I have some myself (like all Canadians can skate and all Austrians can ski, oh, and lots of mathematicians can't walk properly and I don't even want to know about Canadians that have never put a foot on ice or Austrians that barely get down a hill on skis or mathematicians that swagger along with an elegant gait), so I can sympathise.

The thing that gets on my nerves the most about Feynman isn't so much the way he behaved but rather the fact that he is proud enough of his annoying behaviour to actually go and write books about it. Maybe somehow I expect that the "genius"-caliber physicists should have at least the decency to let their colleagues spread the anecdotes.

[Jesse M.]

Sara--he didn't actually write the books himself, these were just stories he told to friends and one of them, Ralph Leighton (who was also his drumming partner), came up with the idea of transcribing them and putting them in a book.

[Caolionn]

Jesse: Even if it was Ralph who motivated the idea, Feynman did agree to it and put his name on the book as the writer. I think I am with Sara that this is a distinctly pompous thing to do. Although the "curious character" had many a fun adventure, those stories would have been a better reflection on Feyman had they come from colleagues or letters after the fact, since I remember having the distinct impression that he was showing off when discussing his lock breaking skills.

But I still stand by the hot-factor, ego or no ego.

[xoxo]

Yeah, Feynman does sound like a prick from the following story but it does sound like he was entertaining as well as super smart.

From: http://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0504.html?m=3

"The charming side of Richard helped people forgive him for his uncharming characteristics. For example, in many ways Richard was a sexist. Whenever it came time for his daily bowl of soup he would look around for the nearest "girl" and ask if she would fetch it to him. It did not matter if she was the cook, an engineer, or the president of the company. I once asked a female engineer who had just been a victim of this if it bothered her. "Yes, it really annoys me," she said. "On the other hand, he is the only one who ever explained quantum mechanics to me as if I could understand it." That was the essence of Richard's charm."

[citrine]

Feynman's safe-cracking and drumming antics charm me but his sexist attitude to women completely puts me off. On the one hand, I tell myself that it was all a reaction to his first wife's untimely death. Did any of you notice that she's about the only woman he mentions with respect in his books? But then again, all of us deal with grief in some form or another - that's an inevitable part of life. Continuing to treat women (or any human group!) as diversions, or put on Earth only to serve others is not befitting of a great thinker.

[Phil]

Maybe I've completely missed his sexist connotations, but personally Feynman is my favorite physicist of this past century(and it has absolutely nothing to do with his looks.) Not only was he an amazing physicist and teacher, but he was an interesting character to boot. Sure, he may have seemed a bit cocky when describing his many adventures, but maybe people see this as cocky because they are slightly jealous of the many things that he had done/accomplished? Regardless, he was a very fascinating man.

[Caolionn]

Phil: Feynman's sexist behavior is notorious, so sometimes it becomes hard to separate the man from his work or charming bongo-playing ways. I will fully admit to being jealous of his accomplishments, but I don't think you can argue the man wasn't cocky. Then again, if I were that brilliant I would probably be a total a**hole too.

[Phil]

Yeah, I guess I don't know enough about his personal relationships to really speak intelligently about his behavioral traits. I guess its hard to take when people view a person you look up to in a negative fashion. But I suppose everyone is entitled to her/his own opinions.

[Caolionn]

It is important to learn our heros are mortal men and women. It makes it a little easier when we fail to know greater ones have fallen further. But maybe I am just a bad person.