I’m re-devouring everything I can about Richard Feynman at the moment. This amazing 1973 Yorkshire Television video is yet another gem, with a tale about looking for answers in the wrong place.

There are many parts that stand out, but one that hit me hard is when Feynman goes to a West Yorkshire pub with British astronomer, cosmologist and science fiction writer Fred Hoyle, for a pint and a chat. 

You know, musing on the casual theoretical relationship between quantum theory, nuclear physics and the formation of stars and galaxies. Pub talk. 

The point that hit was a tale told by Hoyle. I can’t believe I’ve never heard it before. It’s about… 

…a chap under a single lamp in the street. A passer by says “what are you looking for?” He says “I’m looking for my key.” And they search for it for a few minutes. At the end of these minutes the passer by says “well are you sure you lost it here.” And the man says “not at all, but unless I lost it here I’ll never find it.” 

Jump to the point in the video here or play below:

Before this tale the pair talk about issues with the red shift of quasars. And peculiar phenomenon with black holes. Neither of which the theories of the time could explain. Hoyle says he’s spent 5 years thinking about it (with all conventional physical laws and theory at his disposable), but he (and all of science) still couldn’t find a solution.

The tale comes in as they discuss the need to fully exhaust all conventional wisdom before they can conclude that, maybe, new strategies are needed. That either the current laws are wrong, or there’s something new to discover entirely.

I think (though I am no astrophysicist, or physicist of any kind) that the pair are having a conversation that ended up being resolved by the theory of dark energy some 20 years later. Whether that’s right or wrong though doesn’t matter. Just a fun thought.

The point of the tale is that we should be able to identify our illogical behaviour when we repeat processes that are not proving fruitful. When we are reluctant to admit we’re being ineffective, and fearful of trying a new strategy because it might prove us wrong. Or worse.

I don’t know why this tale isn’t more widely known. Or maybe it is, and I’ve been under the wrong street lamp for too long.