Key Takeaways: Planck's Principle and Its Exceptions

The Big Idea

Planck's principle — "science advances one funeral at a time" — is sometimes true and sometimes false. The structural conditions that determine which case applies are predictable and actionable.

Core Framework: The Six Variables

Variable Fast Correction When... Slow Correction When...
Evidence clarity Unambiguous, demonstrable Probabilistic, arguable
Switching cost Low (alternative easy to adopt) High (infrastructure must change)
Defender power Weak or absent Strong (industry + institutions)
External evidence New independent line available Same debate, same methods
Correction mode Circumvention (bypass objections) Persuasion (confront objections)
Crisis Present and urgent Absent

The Correction Speed Formula (Informal)

Speed ∝ (Evidence Clarity × Crisis × Alternatives)
        ÷ (Switching Cost × Defender Power × Embedding)

Key Insights

  • Persuasion vs. Circumvention: Trying to convince defenders is often futile (Planck). Finding new evidence that renders their objections obsolete is faster.
  • Partial Planck: Institutions can correct faster than individuals. Younger practitioners adopt faster than older ones.
  • Theory vs. Practice: Theoretical correction (publications, consensus) is faster than practical correction (guidelines, clinical practice, policy).

Epistemic Audit — Chapter 17 Addition

Assess the six correction variables for your field. Predict whether correction requires generational replacement or can occur within the current generation.

What's Coming Next

Chapter 18: The Outsider Problem — why correct dissenters are punished before they're celebrated.

Quick Reference:

IS PLANCK REQUIRED?
→ Can you produce DEMONSTRABLE evidence? (Not just statistical)
→ Is the SWITCHING COST low? (Alternative ready?)
→ Can you CIRCUMVENT rather than PERSUADE?
→ Is there a CRISIS that creates urgency?
If YES to most → Correction possible within this generation
If NO to most → Planck's principle applies — invest in the NEXT generation