Indian man of 100 goes back to university for PhD(bbc.co.uk)
bbc.co.uk
Indian man of 100 goes back to university for PhD
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11578763
11 comments
Another somewhat high profile of completing a PhD later than most is Brian May, guitarist for Queen, who completed his PhD in astrophysics more than 30 years after starting graduate studies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_May#As_an_astrophysicist
This man is trully an inspiration! I'm a developer but I dropped out of college (Finance and Banking) because of great work opportunities a few years ago. I should really go back and get my degree so I can finish before I'm 30. Great article!
Like any successful PhD, his main drive is vanity :-)
I disagree. See mechanical_fish's comment below: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1811011
In a way, it makes more sense for an elder to get a PhD than someone in his youth.
In a way, it makes more sense for an elder to get a PhD than someone in his youth.
You missed the part where he said wants a "Dr." prefix before his name. I didn't do any analysis, just took the man on his word.
The problem with the statement is 'Like any successful PhD' ... There should be some analysis to back that up.
And like any PhD, the really difficult part will be finishing.
More so for him than your average 21-year-old.
More so for him than your average 21-year-old.
Agreed.
> "you are never too old to learn"
I take my hat off to this man.
I take my hat off to this man.
I thought folks here would criticize him from taking the place from someone who would have time to use his knowledge. So why didn't this happen? Do you guys think knowledge has intrinsic value by itself?
The doctoral programme he has embarked on involves field trips, interviews and finally writing a thesis.
It doesn't sound like he's necessarily taking the place of anyone. I don't smell a lot of grant money in this kind of research, nor do I see a lot of equipment or lab space being required.
And, yes, research has value. If this fellow writes down what he knows, and what he finds out, people in the future will be able to read it. That's creating something of value. Would it be better if this hundred-year-old smart guy took all his knowledge to the grave?
Nowadays it's fashionable to think of all education, right up to the Ph.D. level, as a kind of jobs training program, but in fact the traditional point of the Ph.D. isn't to make yourself smarter. It's to make the world smarter by doing some original research and then publishing it.
It doesn't sound like he's necessarily taking the place of anyone. I don't smell a lot of grant money in this kind of research, nor do I see a lot of equipment or lab space being required.
And, yes, research has value. If this fellow writes down what he knows, and what he finds out, people in the future will be able to read it. That's creating something of value. Would it be better if this hundred-year-old smart guy took all his knowledge to the grave?
Nowadays it's fashionable to think of all education, right up to the Ph.D. level, as a kind of jobs training program, but in fact the traditional point of the Ph.D. isn't to make yourself smarter. It's to make the world smarter by doing some original research and then publishing it.
Personally, I find the idea that you can still be doing something actually impressive[1] at that age inspirational and gives me hope as I age.
[1] By anyone's standards. Not "impressive for a 100 year old."
[1] By anyone's standards. Not "impressive for a 100 year old."
That reminds me of this quote [0]:
"You're a real gold-mine of useless information, you know that, Beldin?" Silk said.
"There's no such thing as useless information, Kheldar," Beldin sniffed.
[0] David Eddings, the Mallereon book 5, The Seeress of Kell [...of all places]
"You're a real gold-mine of useless information, you know that, Beldin?" Silk said.
"There's no such thing as useless information, Kheldar," Beldin sniffed.
[0] David Eddings, the Mallereon book 5, The Seeress of Kell [...of all places]
> There's no such thing as useless information
I disagree completely with that. I just summarized some examples of useless knowledge in http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1813796
I disagree completely with that. I just summarized some examples of useless knowledge in http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1813796
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There isn't any guarantee that a young person gaining a PHd won't leave the field or move into a position for the money where there PHd work is irrelevant. The work, providing of enough value to society, will always exist though.
> Do you guys think knowledge has intrinsic value by itself?
While knowledge may have no intrinsic value, the act of learning does!
Exciting and satisfying your curiosity is one of the best things you to can do for your brain. And staying mentally healthy in old age is something very valuable. It's definitely better than just watching TV, playing cards or solving crossword puzzles. Learning is more comparable with traveling, but with a lot less stress for the (aged) body. And it's more interactive than just reading, and interactivity is very important, too.
While knowledge may have no intrinsic value, the act of learning does!
Exciting and satisfying your curiosity is one of the best things you to can do for your brain. And staying mentally healthy in old age is something very valuable. It's definitely better than just watching TV, playing cards or solving crossword puzzles. Learning is more comparable with traveling, but with a lot less stress for the (aged) body. And it's more interactive than just reading, and interactivity is very important, too.
While knowledge may have no intrinsic value
Was very tempted to stop reading your comment right there.
Was very tempted to stop reading your comment right there.
There is a lot of knowledge (to which I count in particular all proven facts) that has no value at all for me.
For example, take every kind tabloid press. Well, at least the true part of it. Even then, I simply don't care whether some people who I don't even know cheat their spouse, had cosmetic surgery or whatever.
Another example are sports statistics. At least for me, those are absolutely uninteresting. Okay, memorizing them is a nice exercise for the brain, but so is memorizing hundreds of digits of pi, too. (which is also useless, BTW, because we need at most 35 digits of pi for any practical calculation)
For example, take every kind tabloid press. Well, at least the true part of it. Even then, I simply don't care whether some people who I don't even know cheat their spouse, had cosmetic surgery or whatever.
Another example are sports statistics. At least for me, those are absolutely uninteresting. Okay, memorizing them is a nice exercise for the brain, but so is memorizing hundreds of digits of pi, too. (which is also useless, BTW, because we need at most 35 digits of pi for any practical calculation)
I don't think how it's useful to you matters, since we're talking about "intrinsic" value of knowledge. Unless I misunderstood the meaning of the word.
When I went to college, it was a little strange to also see older folks (40s-50s) on campus getting their education right next to 18-20somethings.
But being a little older now I really have to give this old guy his props. Life doesn't stop just because you're old.
But being a little older now I really have to give this old guy his props. Life doesn't stop just because you're old.
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." --Mark Twain
Great Man!
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