5 ms·

This reminds of something Feynman said something in "You Must Be Joking..." "When I was at Princeton in the 1940s I could see what happened to those great mind

by drhodes 12y ago

This reminds of something Feynman said something in "You Must Be Joking..." "When I was at Princeton in the 1940s I could see what happened to those great minds at the Institute for Advanced Study, who had been specially selected for their tremendous brains and were now given this opportunity to sit in this lovely house by the woods there, with no classes to teach, with no obligations whatsoever. These poor bastards could now sit and think clearly all by themselves, OK? So they don't get any ideas for a while: They have every opportunity to do something, and they're not getting any ideas. I believe that in a situation like this a kind of guilt or depression worms inside of you, and you begin to worry about not getting any ideas. And nothing happens. Still no ideas come. Nothing happens because there's not enough real activity and challenge: You're not in contact with the experimental guys. You don't have to think how to answer questions from the students. Nothing!" The internet has probably nullified this effect to some extent.

danieltillett 12y ago
I think Feynman was just jealous :) When you consider that von Neumann was at IAS and he managed a huge amount of collaboration of vast importance I think it had more to do with the individual than the environment.
- navanit 12y ago
  Feynman had an offer from IAS which he declined for the reasons discussed above.
  - danieltillett 12y ago
    I am aware of this - hence the :) I do think it is more of an issue with the individual than the nature of IAS as great collaborative work was done by people there.
Myrmornis 12y ago
Not everyone is sociable and finds the company of other people conducive to their thought processes like Feynman evidently was. Some people work best alone, and there is no shortage of good work (including from the IAS) to demonstrate that. Personally I find talking to other people only occasionally helpful for work.

by drhodes 12y ago

danieltillett 12y ago

I think Feynman was just jealous :) When you consider that von Neumann was at IAS and he managed a huge amount of collaboration of vast importance I think it had more to do with the individual than the environment.

navanit 12y ago
Feynman had an offer from IAS which he declined for the reasons discussed above.
- danieltillett 12y ago
  I am aware of this - hence the :) I do think it is more of an issue with the individual than the nature of IAS as great collaborative work was done by people there.

Myrmornis 12y ago

Not everyone is sociable and finds the company of other people conducive to their thought processes like Feynman evidently was. Some people work best alone, and there is no shortage of good work (including from the IAS) to demonstrate that. Personally I find talking to other people only occasionally helpful for work.