“He is likely unemployed w/ good reason.”
He may or may not be very good with holding a mundane job, but this has very little to do with his mental ability to deal with very abstract and esoteric material such as the theory he is working on. As per the article he has a doctorate in this area so presumably he knows his stuff, as I assume someone with little aptitude for theoretical physics would fare poorly in a doctorate program.
Having done a fair amount of somewhat advanced analysis, topology, and other theorem-based math work in college, I eventually saw that major stumbling blocks on problems/proofs/etc. would unravel or suddenly make more sense often at the most odd times, such as when trying to fall asleep. I concluded that the brain’s ability to deal with increasingly abstract puzzles such as that depended on some fairly different variables than, say, being able to grind out differential equations 100/hour or to hold an 8-5 job.
“I concluded that the brain’s ability to deal with increasingly abstract puzzles such as that depended on some fairly different variables than, say, being able to grind out differential equations 100/hour or to hold an 8-5 job.”
True in other areas, too. In academia you have a very high drone ratio. Drones like intellectual conformity - they want to stay inside whatevre the standard model is..
Can’t swing a dead cat in my area wo/ hitting a PhD. They presumably
know their stuff too but hardly going to change the world.
Except when “findings” are released for public consumption.
That is when the application of HLMencken famous line comes into
play: No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence
of the American public.”
And this is certainly how we keep our budgets flowing: if not
able to dazzle w/ brilliance, then baffle w/ bullshit. AND ALWAYS
ALWAYS talk down to the non-scientist audience.
IOW, don;t believe everything you read esp when it appears in a Limey
newspaper and quotes raving Canadians.
God! I love being a scientist!
MV
Exactly right. His subconscious mind probably calculates the physics of surfing as he’s hangin’ ten without missing a wave (puns intended).