While conducting research, I struggled with the notion that any data I collected at best offered support of a premise, never proof; it is difficult to isolate and control experimental variables, and harder still to avoid over interpretation of the results. The corollary is that despite the absolutist axioms and logic underpinning science, reality is more complex.
Marco Arment wrote a compelling post in early 2012 juxtaposing ‘pragmatic’ and ‘right’, but I like to think the spirit of Arment’s post was highlighting the difference between idealism and pragmatism. I will briefly chance the third rail of blogging — politics — to say that a parliament of pragmatists strikes me as a more functional, useful body than a parliament of idealists, regardless of their political alignment. Equally, a team of pragmatists seems preferable to a team of idealists with unbending, unrealistic views, however talented — including scientists. Perhaps this extends to accepting the problems with scientific research.
Pragmatism is certainly not a new premise, but it appeals to me more as I age. I had previously assumed the contentment of old age was caused by a lifetime of disillusionment — that eventually you just ran out of fight — but more probably it arises from a compounding acceptance and appreciation for complexity only age can teach, with time curbing youthful idealism into wisened pragmatism. I guess all I can do is wait?