What would you study?

[Undertoad]

Well that's the thing, I can see doing a dissertation but I don't want to puke back lecture notes on exams and stuff.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Beestie

I love astrophysics and quantum physics but I fear that if I try to study it too hard, I'll lose my sense of wonder and curiousity and get bogged down the complexity and uncertainty. I'm content reading a Hawking or Feynman book -leaving the tireless calculations to them.

Excellent point. Getting into something you love, that deeply, can have unintended results. There is a real risk in mixing vocation and avocation.

[BigV]

I would respectfully offer a different observation, Beestie. There are good reasons to fear study, learning, testing etc. I know, I'm a poster child for test taking anxiety. But this:

Originally Posted by Beestie

I love astrophysics and quantum physics but I fear that if I try to study it too hard, I'll lose my sense of wonder and curiousity and get bogged down the complexity and uncertainty. ...

isn't one of them. It's nice to enjoy the wonder, the infinite majesty of the heavens gained by lifting one's gaze after dark, sure. But wonder and curiosity and complexity and uncertainty don't vary in inverse proportion. You could do it.

Let me offer one analogy. I am not a student of classical music, nor do I speak Italian. I cannot escape a sense of wonder when listening to Verdi's Requiem. I don't think that learning Italian, or gaining some formal understanding about classical music would diminish my appreciation for that masterpiece. Or any other piece in any other language.

The math you spoke of is the language of astrophysics and quantum physics. You would be able to understand what they were saying instead of relying on some interpreter's report (an article about the subject) saying "What they're talking about is really cool!".

I don't think your analogy works. I think you would become a player, ON the team, not just close to the team. The athletes themselves--they cheer, they celebrate, and you'd be with them, one of them, part of it.



footnote:

Sorry if was up in your face. It's your answer, your imaginary scenario, do what you want. You just accidentally mashed one of my buttons about "I can't do it because..." and I reacted. I stick to my answer, but I don't want to stick you in the eye with it, y'know?

[Tse Moana]

With $600M, I'd spend the rest of my life studying probably. I'd finish up Archaeology (am doing that now), then maybe astrophysics, graphic design, hieroglyphs, latin, veterinary sciences or ... There's just so many things I want to do.

And if it really can be anything at all, I'd like to get a PhD in Star Trek.

[xoxoxoBruce]

[quote=BigV] I am not a student of classical music, nor do I speak Italian. I cannot escape a sense of wonder when listening to Verdi's Requiem. /QUOTE]
That's just because that shit is played by big bands.....
and they have a huge payroll so they pick music that they don't have to pay royalties on.

[wolf]

Changed my mind again. For $600 Million I want to go to whatever University the kids go to after Hogwarts and take a degree in Magick and Wizardry, with a minor in Divination.

[xoxoxoBruce]

And ride that vibrating broom?

[Tse Moana]

That'd be nice...

[wolf]

I understand that a concentration in Sex Magick is available. Maybe I can be the TA?

I would probably study Tahitian ( reo maohi) .

[DanaC]

Har! I have just had a slightly reduced version of that happen to me *grins*

I was offered a place at leeds University to read history....okay it's not a PhD but it's damn close

I have been wanting to do a degree for years and now am in position to do it....

So, in answer to the question; I would study History, with a particular focus on European Medieval School of choice would probably be the school I walked away from when I was an arrrogant 18yr old (Christ Church College, Canterbury) or failing that Leeds Uni

Leeds is better than Canterbury DanaC .

Canterbury is just an ex-poly with a judiciously chosen posh name . It is actually the University of Kent at Canterbury . Not content with the appellation 'university' for what is essentially still a third-grade poly , they whip the cream up further with words like 'Christ College ' . Christ College is an Oxford college , and like typing schools all over the world , certain institutions like to cash in on certain enigmatic names .

DanaC , go for Leeds . An honest redbrick university .

[DanaC]

Already got m'place lined up