I’ve been reading a bit about John Conway since his (unfortunate) death. One thing I keep noticing is that everyone seems to emphasize how core having fun was to John Conway’s way of doing math. One question I’m interested in in general is how important fun and curiosity are for doing good research.
I’ve considered posting a question about this that uses John Conway as an example of someone who 1) was genuinely curious and fun-loving but 2) also had other gifts that played a large role in his ability to do great math. But, I don’t want to be insensitive given that he only recently died.
I am considering using Feynman as an example instead as someone who cultivated a reputation for just having fun but had other gifts which played a large role in his success, but I feel a little weird that Conway was the person who originally triggered the thought.
Anyone who reads my shortform have an idea for how I can ask this in a tasteful way?
I also expect you’ll get answers that are focused on his legacy if you ask that kind of question about him now. Feynman is the central example I think of for this, and there’s a lot more published about and by him, so I’d suggest using him.
(I think there is a strong connection between fun and curiosity and doing good research.)
I’ve been reading a bit about John Conway since his (unfortunate) death. One thing I keep noticing is that everyone seems to emphasize how core having fun was to John Conway’s way of doing math. One question I’m interested in in general is how important fun and curiosity are for doing good research.
I’ve considered posting a question about this that uses John Conway as an example of someone who 1) was genuinely curious and fun-loving but 2) also had other gifts that played a large role in his ability to do great math. But, I don’t want to be insensitive given that he only recently died.
I am considering using Feynman as an example instead as someone who cultivated a reputation for just having fun but had other gifts which played a large role in his success, but I feel a little weird that Conway was the person who originally triggered the thought.
Anyone who reads my shortform have an idea for how I can ask this in a tasteful way?
I also expect you’ll get answers that are focused on his legacy if you ask that kind of question about him now. Feynman is the central example I think of for this, and there’s a lot more published about and by him, so I’d suggest using him.
(I think there is a strong connection between fun and curiosity and doing good research.)
Thanks for the feedback!