What’s so special about asking obvious questions?
Most of us think of progress in science and math as a result of complex, high-level thinking. But Terence Tao, a world-renowned mathematician, suggests something counterintuitive: great insights often stem from asking what might seem like very basic, even ‘dumb’ questions.
But aren’t simple questions just…simple?
On the surface, yes. However, when we dig deeper, these questions force us to reexamine the foundations of what we know. They make us look at old problems through a fresh lens, leading to new insights.