From Funeral to Funeral
Taleb distinguishes scientific inquiry from the biases of individual scientists. His funeral metaphor expresses the concern that established researchers may resist ideas that challenge their commitments.
THE IDEA
FROM FUNERAL TO FUNERAL
I conclude with the following saddening remark about scientists in the soft sciences. People confuse science and scientists. Science is great, but individual scientists are dangerous. They are human; they are marred by the biases humans have. Perhaps even more. For most scientists are hard-headed, otherwise they would not derive the patience and energy to perform the Herculean tasks asked of them, like spending eighteen hours a day perfecting their doctoral thesis.
A scientist may be forced to act like a cheap defense lawyer rather than a pure seeker of the truth. A doctoral thesis is “defended” by the applicant; it would be a rare situation to see the student change his mind upon being supplied with a convincing argument. But science is better than scientists. It was said that science evolves from funeral to funeral. After the LTCM collapse, a new financial economist will emerge, who will integrate such knowledge into his science. He will be resisted by the older ones, but, again, they will be much closer to their funeral date than he.
When to use it
When evaluating scientific claims, consider that individual researchers may have biases even if the scientific method is sound.
Examining whether organizational incentives reward defending established positions or reconsidering them.
In academic research, be aware of the tendency to defend your thesis rather than seek truth, and strive to remain open-minded.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Doctoral Thesis Defense
Taleb uses the defense of a doctoral thesis as an analogy for protecting a position rather than reconsidering it. This is his criticism, not a finding about how often doctoral students change their minds.
LTCM Collapse
Taleb predicts that an economist who learns from the Long-Term Capital Management collapse will face resistance from older economists. The passage offers a forecast, not a documented account of a particular economist’s later career.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
In what ways do you defend your own beliefs even when faced with contradictory evidence?
How does the 'funeral to funeral' progress apply to fields other than science, such as business or politics?
Can you think of a time when a new idea was accepted only after the old guard retired or left?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Fooled by Randomness The Hidden Role of Chance in the Markets and in Life (Nassim Nicholas Taleb)