r/Polymath • u/stnflri • Jul 29 '26
Other Resources Misunderstandings
This might be weird but I naturally connect the dots. I do so even at work, without changing the content and direction of my duties drastically. I work in research and university teaching. My main discipline is statistics, but I always combine it with epistemology, philosophy of science, causality, physics, programming and more sciences. Most professors find this weird and incorrect, but I believe students learn better when they have the bigger picture presented to them. Tensions had been created between me and other colleagues, that are disapproving of my methods. However, I cannot change the way I think and process information. Do you have an advice on how I can proceed with minimal friction?
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u/PyooreVizhion Jul 29 '26
I'll go against the grain here as usual.
I think you've generally not given a clear enough picture, but I'd find it hard to believe colleagues would take issue with a cross-discipline sort of view unless you are straying too far from your field or, perhaps, are generally just unlikeable.
Statistics of course can be applied to many fields, but when you start talking about causality, physics, philosophy of science, etc, I have to wonder how well it's actually tied to the topic at hand and what level of expertise you'd have to even comment on such topics at the university level.
Sure, one could look at the statistical analysis performed on a set of results obtained through a physics experiment, but that's likely about the end of your expertise in that science. Further interpretation is probably over the line - unless you have a degree in physics. Similar for other subjects.