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Richard Feynman. Why.

firewalker · interview · Watch on YouTube

Scientific method & science communicationFundamental physics

What it is

A short clip of Richard Feynman answering an interviewer's question about why magnets repel, explaining that a 'why' question depends on a shared framework of understanding. It illustrates how hard it is to explain fundamentals to a layperson.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Cited constantly as the classic answer to 'why' questions, on explanation, frames of reference and the limits of physics.

  • 5 people recommended it
  • 5 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2019, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “we can actually listen here Feynman's answer to " what is the meaning of... " and " why " questions”

    Feynman on why questions needing a shared framework of understanding.

    acqq, 2019-04 · Recommendation · in “Why have so many physicists shrugged off the paradoxes of quantum mechanics?”

  2. “I think this video is a very good illustration of this fact”

    Shows how hard it is to explain complex things to laypeople.

    Guthur, 2019-09 · Recommendation · in “Overrated: Ludwig Wittgenstein”

  3. “I like to refer people to Feynman's answer to a question about why magnets repel each other[0].”

    Feynman on why magnets repel and what explanation means.

    tsbinz, 2020-04 · Recommendation · in “Why is Maxwell's theory so hard to understand? (2007) [pdf]”

  4. “There's a really good clip by Richard Feynman on explanations and frames of reference”

    Feynman on explanations and frames of reference.

    rlpb, 2021-03 · Recommendation · in “Why is electricity so hard to understand? (1989)”

  5. “Richard Feynman addresses a similar "why" question in a great way in this interview[1]”

    Feynman on why why-questions are problematic in science.

    magicalhippo, 2024-02 · Recommendation · in “Inside the proton, the ‘most complicated thing you could possibly imagine’”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: feynman, why questions, magnets, explanation, philosophy of science

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