Thanks much for your feedback. It’s very true that we learn more from those with whom we disagree. Though I do not disagree with your understanding of Elon Musk, my goal was to present him from a totally new perspective for which I had no option other than choosing that quote. The quote is very generic but it might also be very naive to see it only through that lens.
But there is the thing: In view of what he had envisioned the future civilizations and the Universe; in view of the fact that he was raised by engineering books; in view of his dedication of 80% time into engineering; in view of he telling us “I am an Engineer,” one can say he is mastering a craft — which is my core argument too. And this is possible without bringing that philosophical quote into the discussion.
Still, I agree with your perspective and even add that this man is unexplored, and that he might not only be an engineer but all those titles we give him — or all those titles each of us might be giving him based on our understanding of him and his abilities.
My goal, to reiterate, was to provide some new data to the readers, but also some information and even my own personal — partial and biased understanding of him. Of course, that’s my understanding of him in the light of the available data and information. But it’s also possible to see him from another lens. I mean, I can, or anyone can write a counter-argument which is totally different than this one. That might also give us a new understanding of him. A constructivist approach, or telling Elon Musk is what we see he is, is also plausible.
But I am confident that even Elon Musk himself might at least partially agree to my article because that’s his own core argument too. Hundreds of people tell him he is not an engineer but he says that he is. I am not urging everyone especially entrepreneurs to believe that he is only an engineer. He has probably got a lot of lessons for us in entrepreneurship more than that of engineering. All I contend is this: He is a Jack of all trades but master of a few — but mostly engineering. That’s his own claim too.
