thomas malloy wrote:
It is said that the head of the U.S. Patent Office wanted it closed in 1845,
because everything significant had already been invented.
That is a myth. No truth to it at all.
- Jed
I saw a quote attributed to a man who was the head of the USPTO
saying that every thing that was to be invented had been invented. I
realize that this is not the same as saying that the USPTO should be
closed, however it is the proverbial grain of truth.
This comment is attributed to P.O. commissioner Charles Duell.
However, he was knowledgeable and he did an excellent job, and all of
his remaining published statements on the subject take the opposite view. See:
http://www.myoutbox.net/posass.htm
He couldn't have said this and meant it. I have heard two versions of
the story:
1. He prefaced the statement with something like: "Surely nobody
believes that everything . . ."
2. This is a completely unfounded myth. Someone who sounds like he
knows what he is talking about recently told me that. See comment #95, here:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/did-bill-gates-really-say-that/
Frankly, I cannot imagine that anyone at the P.O. would ever believe
that we have reached the "end of science"! The editors at Sci. Am.
believe that, but they are extraordinarily stupid people. You wonder
how they ever got where they are. I suppose "Parkinson's Law" explains it.
Actually, come to think of it, while equally stupid people might end
up in the P.O., I doubt they would think this is the end of science.
Extreme stupidity that inhibits the central task of the institution
is rare. The central task of Sci. Am. is to sell magazines and make
Sci. Am. look authoritative. Attacking cold fusion and declaring that
this is the end of science helps sell magazines. In that sense, these
people are not stupid. They are irresponsible, immoral, and
ultimately self-defeating I hope, but in the near term they do know
how to sell magazines.
Anyway, I know for a fact that Horgan and the other editors are
certified blockheads, even if they know how to sell magazines.
- Jed
