“Surely You’re Joking, Mr Feynman!”

-          Richard P. Feynman, USA (1918-1988) with Ralph Leighton

I.                   Literal Comprehension

Context: This essay is written by Richard Phillips Feynman (1918-1988), an American physicist, who won Nobel Prize in 1965. In this essay, Mr Feynman has revealed his belief in the practice of interdisciplinarity.

Mr Feynman did his undergraduate at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and wanted to do graduation, but his professor advised him to go somewhere else and find out how the rest of the world was. So, he chose Princeton University for his graduation. On the very first day, he was invited to the tea party organized by Dean Eisenhart for the new students. Since he was an informal man, he felt nervous seeing the high formality at the party. Mrs Eisenhart asked him what he would like- cream or lemon- in his tea. In his nervousness, he said he would take both. Mrs Eisenhart laughed at him and guessed that he might be joking. Mr Feynman knew that he had made a social mistake. In the beginning, he hated the academic gown that students had to wear to dinner for formality. He felt easy when he knew he could wear anything under the gown. He saw the cyclotron at Princeton and immediately appreciated it for its openness. Though there was a chaotic mess, students could study about the different parts of it. Mr Feynman was a regular student of Physics, but he did not limit himself only to his group. He sat with philosophers and listened to them discuss. He learned a different way of looking at an object called ‘brick’. He also studied biology. He wrote research papers and attended the seminars. He knew many things in biology, but felt that he was not fit for the subject. At last, he returned to his subject, physics.    

II.                Interpretation

This essay might be trying to tell us that students must be knowledge-oriented, not the exam-oriented. We usually study for high marks in the exams. But Mr Feynman did not worry about the exam. He was a true seeker of knowledge and enlightenment. Also, the essay has emphasized upon the importance of interdisciplinarity. It is always advantageous. Mr Feynman could understand biology easily because of his knowledge in physics and mathematics. Interdisciplinarity also helps us enjoy the variety of knowledge.

III.             Critical Thinking

I agree with the writer that interdisciplinarity is profitable for us. The knowledge of one discipline helps us in another discipline. But there is always a danger of being jack of all and master of none. Specialty in a field of knowledge has its own importance in today’s world. Also, it is not always possible to practice interdisciplinarity. The use of scientific jargons has made this text too complicated for a management student like me.  

IV.              Assimilation

This essay has taught me that we mustn’t be limited to one area or discipline. I am going to try to enjoy the taste of variety in my life from today onwards. I will keep my mind open for any kind of knowledge so that it will be helpful to me in future.

08.12.14