On the importance of questions and beginner's mind for science
Philosophers are trained to frame questions that can actually be answered. They may not hand you the solutions, but they know exactly which questions to ask—just as science inherited when it was first called “natural philosophy.” Experts often claim the beginner’s mind (初心) is overrated, yet Zen master Shunryu Suzuki cuts right to the heart of it:
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.”
Embracing that openness doesn’t dismiss expertise—it fuels our curiosity, sparks creativity, and keeps us alert to unexpected breakthroughs.