In the piece you linked, it sounds like Einstein had the correct geometry for general relativity one day after he asked for help finding one. Of course, that’s one notable success amongst perhaps a lot of collaboration. The number of letters he sent and received implies that he actually did a lot of written collaboration.
I wonder about the value of real-time conversation vs. written exchanges. And the value of being fully engaged; truly curious about your interlocutor’s ideas.
My own experience watching progress happen (and not-happen) in theoretical neuroscience is that fully engaged conversations with other true experts with different viewpoints was rare and often critical for real progress.
My perception is that those conversations are tricky to produce. Experts are often splitting their attention between impressing people and coolheaded, openminded discussion. And they weren’t really seeking out these conversations, just having them when it was convenient, and being really fully engaged only when the interpersonal vibe happened to be right. Even so, the bit of real conversation I saw seemed quite important.
It would be helpful to understand collaboration on difficult theory better, but it would be a whole research topic.
In the piece you linked, it sounds like Einstein had the correct geometry for general relativity one day after he asked for help finding one. Of course, that’s one notable success amongst perhaps a lot of collaboration. The number of letters he sent and received implies that he actually did a lot of written collaboration.
I wonder about the value of real-time conversation vs. written exchanges. And the value of being fully engaged; truly curious about your interlocutor’s ideas.
My own experience watching progress happen (and not-happen) in theoretical neuroscience is that fully engaged conversations with other true experts with different viewpoints was rare and often critical for real progress.
My perception is that those conversations are tricky to produce. Experts are often splitting their attention between impressing people and coolheaded, openminded discussion. And they weren’t really seeking out these conversations, just having them when it was convenient, and being really fully engaged only when the interpersonal vibe happened to be right. Even so, the bit of real conversation I saw seemed quite important.
It would be helpful to understand collaboration on difficult theory better, but it would be a whole research topic.