This little monograph gives us two related essays. The first
essay is contemporary and written by Robbert Dijkgraaf, the present director of
the Institute of Advanced Studies. In this essay he serves up a history lesson
of sorts, giving us some autobiographical detail on Abraham Flexner, the
founding director of the Institute of Advanced Studies. He goes into the
Flexner’s beliefs which was the founding principles of the Institute as well as
its role in the history of American innovation as the place where creativity
and research into basic and fundamental research takes place. He goes into how
the founding belief in the meaning of the title forms the guiding principle of
the institution. He very nicely frames Flexner’s basic belief. We are then
given Flexner’s original essay on why seemingly useless knowledge is more
important than just practical knowledge; indeed, should be the bedrock
principles of scientific and humanities research in the United States.
You can read the passion and purpose in Flexner’s essay, he
resolutely defends his idea against every plausible objection anyone can raise
in opposition. It is inspirational to read this essay, written in 1939, it demonstrates
just how prescient Flexner was in insisting that the Institute of Advanced
Studies be the exception to the pragmatic tendencies of American science and
resist the commercial bent of the American mindset.
Dijkgraaf skillfully demonstrates, with the examples from
the Institute’s history, of just how the useless knowledge being pursued by the
researchers at the Institute end up contributing to the applied knowledge of
the world. In a way, the contemporary essay serves as vindication of Flexner’s
conviction.
This book will be read many times, as a beacon for myself
when my belief for basic research is faltering.
