🚀 go-pugleaf

In <22590@galaxy.ucr.edu> baez@ucrmath.ucr.edu (john baez) writes:

>In mathematically oriented work it is useful to mix up the model
>with reality some of the time, to get "into" the model.  It should
>be a kind of voluntary suspension of belief, like watching a
>good movie or (perhaps a better analogy) playing a good video game.

Yes, this helps greatly in the creative process.  Several recognized
scholars have said they pretend to "be" the thing they are investigating
(e.g. like a cancer cell).

However, I strongly assert that this is NOT the correct approach for
teaching.  One must ALWAYS qualify that a theory is just the best
current working model.  An example of misused (in my opinion) is the
word "law" when associated with Newton.  It comes squeekingly close
to saying our theories are the way the world is.