Mac Budkowski ᵏ pfp
Mac Budkowski ᵏ
@macbudkowski
why are French so good at math & engineering-related things? they build their own cars, bullet trains, airline-grade & fighter jets, rockets, nuclear power plants, aircraft carriers
8 replies
0 recast
11 reactions
Thomas pfp
Thomas
@aviationdoctor.eth
Speaking as a Frenchman, I think it's coming from a long tradition of scientific excellence (and mathematical in particular) dating back from the Enlightenment, when we had top figures such as Descartes and Pascal. Then, Napoleon created elite math and engineering schools in the late 18th century (Polytechnique a.k.a. X, Centrale, Normale Sup, etc.) and this is where the "cream of the crop" would go study (future CEOs, top civil servants, etc.). Though I think the focus is perhaps less on practical engineering (like the US are more famous for "two college dropouts in a garage building the next hot thing"), and more academic excellence and abstract and intellectual pursuits for their own sake (think Bourbaki group last century). Also, the state has historically subsidized engineering-heavy industries to create national champions (Aerospatiale / Airbus, Dassault, Ariane / Arianespace, nuclear plants, TGV high-speed rail, France Telecom, etc.) as well as R&D centers (like CNRS).
1 reply
0 recast
2 reactions
Matt pfp
Matt
@hughassle.eth
They are just butter than us
1 reply
0 recast
2 reactions
TINA pfp
TINA
@sdrmohi
Haha, yeah, the French are pretty awesome when it comes to engineering and all that tech stuff! They’ve got a strong education system, especially in math and science.🙄 Plus, they’ve always been big on innovation and national pride, so they’re all about making their own stuff instead of buying from others. 🤭
0 reply
0 recast
1 reaction
misha 🪨 pfp
misha 🪨
@mishaderidder.eth
would argue other large European countries are also quite good at it in a similar way like for example English, Germans, Italians are also great engineers building cars, planes, etc I think it was an Englishman who invented photography, or was it a Frenchman 🤔 lol but yes it’s all large countries with also a lot of resources and a solid scientific and philosophical tradition the Dutch are good at trade, maybe bc it is small and doesn’t have a lot of resources, but strategic position. they invented the stock market (and modern capitalism I’m afraid 😅)
0 reply
0 recast
1 reaction
pugson pfp
pugson
@pugson
escapism from living in france
0 reply
0 recast
1 reaction
Marcela pfp
Marcela
@laursa.eth
I think they're just stimulated enough and dont like to rely on others. we all should have a bit of France inside of us
0 reply
0 recast
1 reaction
Hector pfp
Hector
@noctis
I know I know ;)
0 reply
0 recast
1 reaction