[Valin]

Physicists (and most scientists) are generally of the belief that we're well on the way to having discovered a great portion of all that there is to discover.

Wasn't it back in the 19th century that there was talk about closing down the patent office because because most everything had been invented?

[yendu bwam]

Wasn't it back in the 19th century that there was talk about closing down the patent office because because most everything had been invented?

After umbrella shoes (which were supposed to let you float down from high windows in buildings), there really wasn't much point in going any further!

[Physicist]

Physicists (and most scientists) are generally of the belief that we're well on the way to having discovered a great portion of all that there is to discover.

I tell you flatly that I've never met a SINGLE physicist who has maintained anything of the kind. I did once meet a chemist who said this, and I found it shocking. I have met several laypeople who have held this belief.

I believe that a complete and correct theory of particle physics is possible in my lifetime. That is not to say that a complete and correct theory of anything means that there is nothing left to learn about it, or nothing left to invent with it. In fact, having a good understanding of something is often a prerequisite to doing something really useful with it.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Physicists (and most scientists) are generally of the belief that we're well on the way to having discovered a great portion of all that there is to discover.

Not really. A more accurate statement would be: "Non-scientists believe that most scientists are of the opinion that they have discovered a great portion of all that there is to discover." The "public's" understanding of science is no better than that shown of FreeRepublic.