physics envy
- noun
- /ˈfɪzɪks ˈɛnvi/
- Jargon
:
envidia de la física
- Some academics argue that fields like sociology often experience physics envy, aspiring for the rigor and credibility of physical sciences.
Examples
-
In particular, if the field of psychology is to live up to its name and explore the logos of the psyche in a comprehensive and authentic manner, it must outgrow the "physics envy" that still dominates psychology today and ground itself in the full splendor and depth of the human psyche.
Academic text (1991) -
As far as I know, this is a very modern, 20th-century view of science, where social sciences such as economics (formerly "political economy") suffer from "physics envy."
Blog text (8) -
In preparing itself for the task, the first step for ecopsychology might be to declare independence—once and for all—from "physics envy," and develop its own methods and data as guided by the nature of the human psyche.
Academic text (1991) -
Many researchers in the social sciences struggle with physics envy, wishing their disciplines had the same level of precision as physics.
-
The concept of physics envy highlights how some scholars feel inferior when comparing the empirical successes of physics to their own disciplines.
Synonyms
179
1.5
A feeling of anger and worry when you think someone else has what you want
5
4.5
Feeling very jealous because someone has something you want
A feeling of sadness and wanting something someone else has
How Envious
- Jargon
110
1.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The phrase physics envy comes from the picture of people in other fields looking at physics and feeling envy because physics uses clear, exact formulas and has high status. So it means 'jealousy of the accuracy and status of physics', and is used when someone tries to make their work seem as exact and respected as physics.