[EnigmaticSpirit]

Notice how I said SOME. Some people on here have a tendency to assume I make vast generalisations, even when I specify that not ALL people of a particular group are the same.

My question was posed because I was reminded of what someone on here said about their university. Something along the lines of this was said; 'The people who are the most objectionable, arrogant and disregard others' subjects are, more often than not, science students.' To some degree, I find this unfair. I study Biology and I am in no way arrogant, quite humble in fact. I have come across some students on here who study Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, etc. and they tend to be the most arrogant, have an over-inflated ego, and truly believe they can master any subject because it is far 'easier' than Physics.

Here is an extract from an article by J. Murray Gibson that further gives evidence for my point: "Ask a scientist who is not a physicist and you might hear that we physicists are an arrogant bunch. And to a layperson, scientists in general often seem arrogant. No, we shrug, we're not really arrogant, we are just very objective and thus usually right! We are certainly a group with admirable strength in our convictions. Could there be a problem with well-tempered arrogance? I have worked in a number of high-quality research institutions and have learned that arrogance is, for good reason, a prized commodity." Source: http://burro.case.edu/Academics/USNA...arrogance1.pdf

Here is a website that I particularly hate: http://xkcd.com/435/ Funnily enough I hear of less arrogant mathematicians though.

Why do you think this is? Please give your opinions below. There will be no need for vitriol or offensiveness, just express your opinions on why SOME physicists are so damn arrogant. Thank you.

[The Polymath]

(Original post by EnigmaticSpirit)
Notice how I said SOME. Some people on here have a tendency to assume I make vast generalisations, even when I specify that not ALL people of a particular group are the same.

My question was posed because I was reminded of what someone on here said about their university. Something along the lines of this was said; 'The people who are the most objectionable, arrogant and disregard others' subjects are, more often than not, science students.' To some degree, I find this unfair. I study Biology and I am in no way arrogant, quite humble in fact. I have come across some students on here who study Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, etc. and they tend to be the most arrogant, have an over-inflated ego, and truly believe they can master any subject because it is far 'easier' than Physics.

Here is an extract from an article by J. Murray Gibson that further gives evidence for my point: "Ask a scientist who is not a physicist and you might hear that we physicists are an arrogant bunch. And to a layperson, scientists in general often seem arrogant. No, we shrug, we're not really arrogant, we are just very objective and thus usually right! We are certainly a group with admirable strength in our convictions. Could there be a problem with well-tempered arrogance? I have worked in a number of high-quality research institutions and have learned that arrogance is, for good reason, a prized commodity." Source: http://burro.case.edu/Academics/USNA...arrogance1.pdf

Here is a website that I particularly hate: http://xkcd.com/435/ Funnily enough I hear of less arrogant mathematicians though.

Why do you think this is? Please give your opinions below. There will be no need for vitirol or offensiveness, just express your opinions on why SOME physicists are so damn arrogant. Thank you.

I love xkcd you realise you're not meant take the comics on there seriously Particularly the comic you chose was brilliant

It is true though, Physicists like to think that they're studying the fundamentals, which is what draws me to the subject myself. I read an article on what the Higgs-Boson doesn't help us with, and it listed things like cancer, conciousness etc. and basically tells us to appreciate that although the fundamentals are nice to solve, we have other problems which can only be solved as complex issues, not fundamentals, such as economics, philosophy etc.

Physicists might think that anything not studying the fundamentals is irrelevant, but all you have to do is ask how the Higgs-Boson discovery is going to protect buildings from earthquakes.

[EnigmaticSpirit]

(Original post by Junaid96)
I love xkcd you realise you're not meant take the comics on there seriously Particularly the comic you chose was brilliant

It is true though, Physicists like to think that they're studying the fundamentals, which is what draws me to the subject myself. I read an article on what the Higgs-Boson doesn't help us with, and it listed things like cancer, conciousness etc. and basically tells us to appreciate that although the fundamentals are nice to solve, we have other problems which can only be solved as complex issues, not fundamentals, such as economics, philosophy etc.

Physicists might think that anything not studying the fundamentals is irrelevant, but all you have to do is ask how the Higgs-Boson discovery is going to protect buildings from earthquakes.

I know the comic is a joke, but people do use it to degrade others' achievements I have noticed. I understand exactly where you are coming from, thank you. Also, when you spoke of fundamentals, I was drawn to thinking about my chosen field Philosophy. I suppose, in that way, Physics and Philosophy are alike. After all, the former derived from Natural Philosophy originally.

[Arekkusu]

Yes I have seen arrogance from physics students. It is because it's founded on a philosophy, rationalism-empiricism, which is part of the establishment.

[The Polymath]

(Original post by EnigmaticSpirit)
I know the comic is a joke, but people do use it to degrade others' achievements I have noticed. I understand exactly where you are coming from, thank you. Also, when you spoke of fundamentals, I was drawn to thinking about my chosen field Philosophy. I suppose, in that way, Physics and Philosophy are alike. After all, the former derived from Natural Philosophy originally.

Yep, I certainly saw Physics and Philosophy being very similar in my reasons for wanting to study them - the fundamental questions of existence, basically. I have very little interest in things like electromagnetism and all that - I prefer stuff like quantum physics, relativity etc. - the proper nitty gritty fundamentals. At the same time, though, I appreciate the complex problems, and I'm applying for Economics with Modern Languages at uni

_________ ________ ___________
Biologists _ Physicists _ Mathematicians _ The French!

(just a joke, no offence intended)

[QuirkyDoDo]

I don't know (in response to your question), but funnily enough I experienced this first hand.

The guy I'm seeing unnecessarily dropped his opinion that Business, and everything related to it, a mickey mouse subject and said that it was stupidly easy into conversation. (Bearing in mind that I am hoping to do Management Studies with French come September).

P*ssed me right off tbh.

[blueray]

Either way I earn more than those arrogant students, so let them speak, whilst I get paid.

Don't listen to arrogant people. Be confident in yourself and don't let them dumb you down.

[EnigmaticSpirit]

(Original post by blueray)
Either way I earn more than those arrogant students, so let them speak, whilst I get paid.

Don't listen to arrogant people. Be confident in yourself and don't let them dumb you down.

You're so kind. I have no idea why you have such negative rep.

[EnigmaticSpirit]

(Original post by Junaid96)
Yep, I certainly saw Physics and Philosophy being very similar in my reasons for wanting to study them - the fundamental questions of existence, basically. I have very little interest in things like electromagnetism and all that - I prefer stuff like quantum physics, relativity etc. - the proper nitty gritty fundamentals. At the same time, though, I appreciate the complex problems, and I'm applying for Economics with Modern Languages at uni

_________ ________ ___________
Biologists _ Physicists _ Mathematicians _ The French!

(just a joke, no offence intended)

You missed out the chemists! Not that I am one.

[pop101]

Cuz they think they're geniuses as they're doing one of the most non-vocational subject possible...Maths being the most non-vocational subject possible. There's a joke which goes 'Chemists think they're physicists, physicists think they're mathematicians, and mathematicians think they're Gods.'

[blueray]

(Original post by EnigmaticSpirit)
You're so kind. I have no idea why you have such negative rep.

I am what you call a "speaks whatever I believe in, regardless of what others think".

Why should I have to restrict my thoughts to appease a rep system. Pah.

Thanks for the compliment

[Piko_Piko]

I've seen and heard mammoth logic fails from physics students. All of the ones I've spoken to at any length have been atrocious at reasoning. That said, I've only met five of them, so it's probably not a large enough sample size to draw any real conclusions. I've wondered for a while, though.

[The Polymath]

(Original post by Piko_Piko)
I've seen and heard mammoth logic fails from physics students. All of the ones I've spoken to at any length have been atrocious at reasoning. That said, I've only met five of them, so it's probably not a large enough sample size to draw any real conclusions. I've wondered for a while, though.

Many are definitely terrible at reasoning

[Semolina1]

"It's a hard subject... They are geniuses"

Or so my Brother says... he studies physics

[Benniboi1]

I guess when you're up against people that refuse to believe theories that are backed up with a tonne of evidence then you're going to over time become quite annoyed and end up just not listening to some people. To be honest though, there's not many more arrogant physics students than there is arrogant students of any other subject.

[- skyhigh -]

There are always SOME arrogant students in every course.

[EnigmaticSpirit]

(Original post by Benniboi1)
I guess when you're up against people that refuse to believe theories that are backed up with a tonne of evidence then you're going to over time become quite annoyed and end up just not listening to some people. To be honest though, there's not many more arrogant physics students than there is arrogant students of any other subject.

I wish they realised that not everyone rejects theories that have a 'tonne of evidence', except for some religious folk (creationists). Maybe the physicists are more vocal? On here, I haven't come across any arrogant; Biologists, Chemists, Artists, Psychologists, Philosophers, etc. Admittedly, I have only come across 3 arrogant Physicists.

[EnigmaticSpirit]

(Original post by Semolina1)
"It's a hard subject... They are geniuses"

Or so my Brother says... he studies physics

Correct me if I'm wrong, but true geniuses tend to be more humble than arrogant i.e. Albert Einstein.

[Semolina1]

(Original post by EnigmaticSpirit)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but true geniuses tend to be more humble than arrogant i.e. Albert Einstein.

I know... I think the modesty comes with age haha
Beginners boast, experts do not feel the need

[Brevillemonkey]

The fact that you said 'some' physicists, indicating a minority, tells me that arrogance is not a trait that comes directly with being a physicist, and more to do with being an *******.

Some people are just *******s, TS, it's a sad truth.