Why Do Magnets Work?

Why do we have seasons? Well, the earth is tilted on its axis and as it goes around the sun some parts are hit more directly by the sun’s rays. Why does the earth go around the sun and not the other way around? Well, gravity allows planets to orbit stars because bigger objects have stronger gravity. How does gravity work? Why do why questions never seem to end? I would argue that it is the nature of knowledge that “in knowledge there is always a trade-off between accuracy and simplicity.” For the purposes of this paper accuracy will be defined as how close a value is to the true value. Simplicity seems like a simple concept, but it can actually be paradoxically complex. Therefore, for clarity, I will define simplicity as the quality of being

It seems such a simple question, yet hides an ocean of complexity behind one’s veil of ignorance. This question was proposed to Richard Feynman in a YouTube video of an interview with him, and he answered it in a very peculiar way. After about forty five seconds of stumbling over his thoughts, Feynman began what amounted to a 6 minute lecture to the interviewer on the difficulty of answering why questions ("Richard Feynman Magnets"). Feynman addresses two very important points in his little soliloquy: the importance of a knowledge framework (prior knowledge) and the dangers of figurative language. For the former he addresses the problem of somebody breaking a bone and going to the hospital, but from the perspective of an alien. He brings to light the background knowledge that we so easily take for granted; why do we go to the hospital when we break a bone ("Richard Feynman Magnets")? He addresses this point to show how those educated in a field can allow for basic knowledge, in this case of human society, so they do not need to explain every minor point. This relates perfectly back to a scientist – Feynman – trying to explain magnets to a layman. Feynman certainly knows how magnets work with decades of his life dedicated to the scientific discipline, but then why could he not explain it to the interviewer. Well, he says himself that he does not understand magnets in any context that a layman would understand them. Without him being able to assume basic knowledge of physics, in particular the electromagnetic forces active in magnets, Feynman cannot accurately describe what is occurring between those two hunks of iron without raising far more questions than he will serve to answer. This is because he could only use a metaphor or simile to describe the interaction to a layman. His example is a rubber band acting like the force pulling the two magnets together, but then why does the rubber band contract? What do you know, we are right back at the