I doubt, therefore I think

** Feynman on "The Role of Scientific Culture in Modern Society." Conclusion of a talk given at the Galileo Symposium in Italy in 1964. From “The Pleasure of Finding Things Out."

What then is the meaning of the whole world? We do not know what the meaning of existence is. We say, as the result of studying all of the views that we have had before, we find that we do not know the meaning of existence; but in saying that we do not know the meaning of existence, we have probably found the open channel – if we will allow only that, as we progress, we leave open opportunities for alternatives, that we do not become enthusiastic for the fact, the knowledge, the absolute truth, but remain always uncertain – [that we] “hazard it.” The English, who have developed their government in this direction, call it “muddling through,” and although a rather silly, stupid sounding thing, it is the most scientific way of progressing. To decide upon the answer is not scientific. In order to make progress, one must leave the door to the unknown ajar – ajar only. We are only at the beginning of the development of the human race; of the development of the human mind, of intelligent life – we have years and years in the future. It is our responsibility not to give the answer today as to what it is all about, to drive everybody in that direction and to say: “This is a solution to it all.” Because we will be chained then to the limits of our present imagination. We will only be able to do those things that we think today are the things to do. Whereas, if we leave always some room for doubt, some room for discussion, and proceed in a way analogous to the sciences, then this difficulty will not arise. I believe, therefore, that although it is not the case today, that there may some day come a time, I should hope, when it will be fully appreciated that the power of government should be limited; that the government ought not to be empowered to decide the validity of scientific theories, that this is a ridiculous thing for them to try to do; that they are not to decide the various descriptions of history or of economic theory or philosophy. Only in this way can the real possibilities of the future human race be ultimately developed.