The Importance of 'Taste' in Science and Education: Lessons from Yang Zhenning

What is "Taste" in Scientific Learning?

Yang Zhenning, one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century, once encountered a 15-year-old student who could effortlessly answer several quantum mechanics questions. However, when asked which of the problems the student found truly intriguing or profound, the child couldn’t give an answer. To Yang, this response highlighted a critical absence: the student had not developed what he called "Taste."

Yang Zhenning explained that learning science is not just about acquiring knowledge or mastering technical skills; it is about understanding the meaning behind what is being learned, appreciating the beauty in certain concepts, and recognizing their significance. Without this deeper understanding, a person may absorb vast amounts of information without ever truly engaging with the material.

Defining "Taste" in Science

According to Yang, "Taste" refers to the ability to discern what is important, beautiful, and worth debating in a field of study. It is the quality that allows a scientist to become passionate about certain ideas, to appreciate their elegance, and to defend them even in the face of opposition. Without developing Taste, one risks being overwhelmed by the vastness of a subject without ever truly grasping its essence.

This concept of Taste is not only applicable in science but also in fields like art, philosophy, and technology. It's akin to the ability of innovators like Steve Jobs to see the intersection of technology, art, and commerce, making decisions that transcend time. Similarly, Wu Qingyuan's genius in Go was a form of Taste, allowing him to make moves that others couldn"t anticipate.

Developing Taste: Insights from Yang Zhenning's Education

Yang Zhenning’s development of Taste was influenced by his upbringing and education. From a young age, he was exposed to both mathematics and the natural world, cultivating a deep curiosity and appreciation for beauty in scientific ideas. His time at Southwest Associated University introduced him to mentors like Wu Dayou and Wang Zhuxi, who guided him into fields like symmetry principles and statistical mechanics.

This mentorship helped Yang form judgments about the field of physics and develop his Taste. It wasn’t just about learning the equations and concepts but about seeing their aesthetic beauty and importance in the broader picture of scientific understanding.

Taste and Intuition: A High-Level Cognitive Process

Taste is like having a bird's-eye view of a subject—a cognitive ability to see the connections and importance of seemingly isolated pieces of knowledge. This ability mirrors the self-attention mechanism in modern Transformer models, which allows AI to identify crucial relationships in data. Just as Transformers discern key connections across multiple dimensions, Taste allows humans to extract deep meaning from complex systems.

Both Albert Einstein and Yang Zhenning recognized the importance of this type of insight. Einstein famously said, “The only real valuable thing is intuition. In the search for knowledge, intelligence plays a secondary role.” For Einstein, this intuition, fueled by philosophical insight, was what differentiated a mere specialist from a true seeker of truth.

The Role of Taste in Asking the Right Questions

In the era of AI and big data, many argue that the ability to ask the right questions is more important than ever. However, without Taste, it is nearly impossible to formulate profound questions. Great scientific breakthroughs often come not from solving easy problems but from asking the difficult, visionary questions that change the course of a field.

Taste helps guide these questions. It enables scientists to focus on what truly matters and to push the boundaries of human knowledge. As Yang noted, if one’s goal is only to pursue what is “useful,” it is unlikely they will go far. Similarly, Einstein believed that a scientist’s appreciation for the deeper beauty of nature determined the heights they could reach in their research.

The Importance of Taste in Education

Yang’s insights have profound implications for education. In today’s world, where STEM fields are heavily promoted, it’s easy to prioritize the acquisition of technical skills over the development of Taste. But as Yang emphasized, a focus on results and practicality without understanding the beauty and meaning behind knowledge can lead to a superficial approach to learning.

To foster true innovation and deep understanding, educators must nurture students’ ability to appreciate the importance and elegance of what they learn. This means not just teaching students how to solve problems but encouraging them to debate, appreciate, and engage with the meaning behind those problems.

Conclusion: Cultivating Taste for Long-Term Growth

In a world increasingly dominated by data and efficiency, Yang Zhenning’s concept of Taste reminds us that true mastery of any subject requires more than just technical skill—it requires an understanding of what is truly beautiful, significant, and timeless. Taste is what allows individuals to transcend the noise of information and create lasting, meaningful contributions.

Just as Transformer models find critical connections in data, humans with Taste can navigate the vast complexities of knowledge and extract the profound insights that lead to breakthroughs. In both science and education, Taste is the guiding light that helps us discern what truly matters.