Source: p 112, Introducing Philosophy for Canadians: A Text with Integrated Readings (2011 1 ed) by Solomon, McDermid. Primary Source: [I know not the page number because I found this online], The World As I See It By Albert Einstein.
It is therefore easy to see why the Churches have always fought science and persecuted its devotees. On the other hand, I maintain that cosmic religious feeling is the strongest and noblest incitement to scientific research. Only those who realize the immense efforts and, above all, the devotion which pioneer work in theoretical science demands, can grasp the strength of the emotion out of which alone such work, remote as it is from the immediate realities of life, can issue What a deep conviction of the rationality of the universe and what a yearning to understand, were it but a feeble reflection of the mind revealed in this world, Kepler and Newton must have had to enable them to spend years of solitary labour in disentangling the principles of celestial mechanics! [1.] Those whose acquaintance with scientific research is derived chiefly from its practical results easily develop a
completely false notion
of the mentality of the men who, surrounded by a sceptical world, have shown the way to those like-minded with themselves, scattered through the earth and the centuries. [End of 1.] Only one who has devoted his life to similar ends can have a vivid realization of what has inspired these men and given them the strength to remain true to their purpose in spite Of countless failures. It is cosmic religious feeling that gives a man strength Of this sort. A contemporary has said, not unjustly, that in this materialistic age of ours the serious scientific workers are the only profoundly religious people.
I wish to understand 1 universally, independent of physics if possible because I know nothing of it. What exactly does 1 mean?
What is wrong about emphasis on (I do not mean obsession with) practical results? Even a practitioner must know theory; so is not the real question how to balance theory and practice?
What is meant by
completely false notion
?