Science makes me feel stupid too. It’s just that I’ve gotten used to it. So used to it, in fact, that I actively seek out new opportunities to feel stupid. I wouldn’t know what to do without that feeling. I even think it’s supposed to be this way. Let me explain.

I’m not talking about`relative stupidity’, in which the other students in the classactually read the material, think about it and ace the exam,whereas you don’t. I’m also not talking about bright peoplewho might be working in areas that don’t match their talents.Science involves confronting our `absolute stupidity’. Thatkind of stupidity is an existential fact, inherent in our effortsto push our way into the unknown.