Certainly this is true for some “theoretically gifted” people. But others do indeed have little to no “technical ability”. The “Grothendieck prime” is an extreme example of it, but there are many accounts of the genius theorists told to stay out of the labs, or else.
It is worthwhile for any “intellectually gifted people who haven’t developed very strong technical ability in a quantitative subject” to give it an honest try, but not to be too surprised if they find themselves lacking.
What do you mean by “technical ability” ? I intended to include everything in math / physics / TCS / statistics under that umbrella, not just computation / engineering.
The most significant thing to my mind is actually the peer group – even if one doesn’t become quantitatively sophisticated oneself, just being around people who are can make a big difference.
I think that I erred in using the word “technical” at all. What I had in mind was “the academic subjects that are referred to as ‘technical’”, but I already used “quantitative,” which covers that.
Certainly this is true for some “theoretically gifted” people. But others do indeed have little to no “technical ability”. The “Grothendieck prime” is an extreme example of it, but there are many accounts of the genius theorists told to stay out of the labs, or else.
It is worthwhile for any “intellectually gifted people who haven’t developed very strong technical ability in a quantitative subject” to give it an honest try, but not to be too surprised if they find themselves lacking.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauli_effect
What do you mean by “technical ability” ? I intended to include everything in math / physics / TCS / statistics under that umbrella, not just computation / engineering.
The most significant thing to my mind is actually the peer group – even if one doesn’t become quantitatively sophisticated oneself, just being around people who are can make a big difference.
Hmm, I guess I don’t understand what you meant by that. What is not a technical ability in your model?
I think that I erred in using the word “technical” at all. What I had in mind was “the academic subjects that are referred to as ‘technical’”, but I already used “quantitative,” which covers that.
Sorry the confusion :P.