Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#321

Post by samh748 » Wed, Apr 13, 2022, 4:11 AM UTC

cbau wrote: post #57

> What does one do with an intellectual life other than swimming through intellectual content? I've found myself in a similar point in life (currently 29). When I was young, everyone encouraged me to learn, and I think I get intrinsic pleasure from it, so like you I've done an enormous amount of reading on a variety of topics. # Ways being extremely curious can be bad that nobody tells you about Not long ago, I start…

Hello again!

Would really love to continue the conversation with you somehow. Hope you see these replies eventually!

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#322

Post by samh748 » Thu, Apr 14, 2022, 4:07 AM UTC

adg001 wrote: post #320

samh748 wrote: post #318

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh hi alfonso! Clicked into your profile from your Ask HN re alternative career paths, then realized it was you! Thanks for this reply! Really cool suggestions. I definitely should dig around arts and philosophy more, especially in ways you've suggested! Question: Are you able to give example(s) of #2? Like you mean something by Aiweiei would count right? I came across a few books of his and thought was pretty cool.

Hi Sam, good to talk with you again :-) Ai Weiwei would definitely count! In reality all western contemporary art, and to a more limited extent also contemporary art made artists in other regions of the globe, is political art. Political art here doesn't mean art related to the institutions of politics, as sometimes it is assumed in some circles. All art that raises questions about how we relate to each other in our…

Thank you so much for all your wisdom and knowledge Alfonso! So nice to learn about your work! I'll be treasuring deeply all that you've shared with me. Perhaps one day I'll have my essays published and I can show you if you're open :)

All the best, Sam

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#323

Post by adg001 » Thu, Apr 14, 2022, 6:16 AM UTC

samh748 wrote: post #322

adg001 wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi Sam, good to talk with you again :-) Ai Weiwei would definitely count! In reality all western contemporary art, and to a more limited extent also contemporary art made artists in other regions of the globe, is political art. Political art here doesn't mean art related to the institutions of politics, as sometimes it is assumed in some circles. All art that raises questions about how we relate to each other in our…

Thank you so much for all your wisdom and knowledge Alfonso! So nice to learn about your work! I'll be treasuring deeply all that you've shared with me. Perhaps one day I'll have my essays published and I can show you if you're open :) All the best, Sam

Sam, please do it! I am always eager to learn more; I will be happy to hear from you, and I thank you for the opportunity to exchange a few ideas here on HN. Wishing you all the best with your personal and intellectual life. – Alfonso

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#324

Post by mettamage » Fri, Apr 15, 2022, 5:08 AM UTC

samh748 wrote: post #304

mettamage wrote: post #42

> What does one do with an intellectual life other than swimming through intellectual content? Psychology: I've used it. HEXACO/Big 5, I've used it to find my girlfriend and test on compatibility. How do you do that? Well, I score high on "openness to experience", I can spot other open people from a mile away. Conscientious vs non-conscientious people are also quite easily recognizable by how rigid/organized they are…

Awesome stuff! Agree with everything. The neuropsychology and addiction part, I need to look into that! Thanks for this! :)

Feel free to shoot an email. I don't look at it every day but when I catch it, I'll send over some info :)

Re: Ask HN: I'm interested in so many disciplines, but what can I do with that?

#325

Post by samh748 » Fri, Apr 15, 2022, 11:01 AM UTC

agentcoops wrote: post #298

samh748 wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks so much for your comments! Super helpful! One question: what sort of things do you think I could write as a novice in these fields?? I don't think I'm interested in writing study notes or summaries etc. I think I'm more inquiry-inclined, something more critical, more engaged.

Apologies, missed this response. Do you have an email address I can reach you at? It depends somewhat if you’re really interested in the “human” or “social” sciences, but I really do recommend that Eco How to Write a Thesis book regardless. It conveys the old secrets of how to enter humanistic scholarship — and was originally written to allow even working class Italians who might only have access to a library for an…

Hello! Not sure if you were going to send me an email or not. I did have a question: How do you discern the human and social sciences? To be honest I'll probably love dabbling in both :)

> originally written to allow even working class Italians who might only have access to a library for an hour a week to do so

Btw this was very encouraging for me to read! As I'm definitely struggling to find enough time/attention in a day to do intellectual stuff.