Perhaps one of the greatest rebuttals of all time

[Phoenix]

While browsing (ok, stumbling through) TED.com; I happened upon perhaps the best example of answering a question using the "it is that way because it is" method

YouTube - Richard Feynman Magnets

Well played Mr. Feynman; well played.

 

[Awaken]

That was hilarious. I dont know why it was so funny to me. I get in similar situations all the time, but I just by default say I dont know or ignore the question when deep down inside Im pretty much thinking the same thing.

 

[systembust]

"...our relation to the gravity forces and the electrical forces remains unknown..." It takes him until the end of the video to get to this point, which I think is the most significant thing he said here in terms of an honest answer.

It was an entertaining spiel, but a cop-out imo. Plenty of scientific answers are multi-faceted, or could be approached from a number of angles, but the interviewer was obviously asking the nature of the principle that accounts for the phenomenon, which we seemingly can't answer at this time. So why not just admit it.

 

[Phoenix]

"...our relation to the gravity forces and the electrical forces remains unknown..." It takes him until the end of the video to get to this point, which I think is the most significant thing he said here in terms of an honest answer.

It was an entertaining spiel, but a cop-out imo. Plenty of scientific answers are multi-faceted, or could be approached from a number of angles, but the interviewer was obviously asking the nature of the principle that accounts for the phenomenon, which we seemingly can't answer at this time.

Its not really a cop out--he simply could not describe the forces at work in layman's terms, so he abstained from fully answering to avoid the numerous follow up questions that would ensue.

He actually (semi-)answered the question. (The whole part about the behavior of electrons)

Some background: Feynman was known for his ability to take the very complex theories of physics and relate them to everyday things in such a way that a less-learned person could comprehend them. Magnetism is a force that eluded his ability to do this, so instead he focused on the nature of the question as a whole regardless of its contents.

I have done the same in quite a few situations (or likened a particularly complex system to the workings of black-magic) so as not to have to spend an unnecessary amount of time explaining the baser principals of a given theory/item/system. It beats saying "because I said so."

 

[sammael]

Lol, I also found it humerous.

And he managed to not be too condescending either.

 

[snafupants]

While browsing (ok, stumbling through) TED.com; I happened upon perhaps the best example of answering a question using the "it is that way because it is" method

YouTube - Richard Feynman Magnets

Well played Mr. Feynman; well played.

The camerman would have scored extra points by showing the interviewers face at some point.
But anyway, in conversation, I always do that - try to figure out what frequency the person is coming in on and how many assumptions have to be piled on to their framework. Like if you're talking to a kid, ten assumptions may be necessary; if you're talking to a layperson, however, ten assumptions may be four too many; and, if you're talking to a scientist, two assumptions might count for condescension.

 

[A22]

Nice answer. But I'm too curious to take it. I'd study physics and ask him again.