What Martin is describing might somewhat resemble OCD, without actually being OCD. Let’s just say that some degree of obsession seems related to the development of ideas, at least in some cases.
I did want to focus on the descriptive question rather than the normative question. It is possible that almost all intellectual progress comes from obsessive people, while it’s also “not the happiest or most fruitful path”. Do you think that’s wrong? If so, why do you think there are other common paths? I’m actually fairly skeptical of that. It seems very plausible that obsession is causally important.
For example, the Sequences or HPMOR don’t read like they were written in an obsessive headspace. They have plenty of free-wheeling moments, remember the bit about Greengrass of Sunshine?
What Martin is describing might somewhat resemble OCD, without actually being OCD. Let’s just say that some degree of obsession seems related to the development of ideas, at least in some cases.
I did want to focus on the descriptive question rather than the normative question. It is possible that almost all intellectual progress comes from obsessive people, while it’s also “not the happiest or most fruitful path”. Do you think that’s wrong? If so, why do you think there are other common paths? I’m actually fairly skeptical of that. It seems very plausible that obsession is causally important.
For example, the Sequences or HPMOR don’t read like they were written in an obsessive headspace. They have plenty of free-wheeling moments, remember the bit about Greengrass of Sunshine?