Does Love Hinder Personal Achievement?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tgt
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Love
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of whether being in love hinders personal achievement. Participants explore the implications of love on individual focus, emotional well-being, and success in various aspects of life, including financial stability and personal fulfillment.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that being in love may distract individuals from personal goals and achievements, allowing for greater concentration on self if one is not in love.
  • Others argue that love brings happiness and fulfillment that outweighs financial success, emphasizing emotional connections over material wealth.
  • A participant shares a personal experience of a life-altering event that shifted their perspective on love and success, indicating that emotional well-being can be prioritized over financial gain.
  • There are claims that love can be irrational, but some participants contend that irrationality is a broader human condition not limited to love.
  • Some participants express that love can enhance success by providing support and shared experiences, making burdens easier to bear.
  • Questions are raised about historical figures like Einstein and whether their achievements would have been greater without romantic involvement.
  • One participant posits that the fear of loneliness drives the desire for family and companionship, suggesting a philosophical view on the nature of existence and relationships.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion features multiple competing views on the relationship between love and personal achievement, with no consensus reached. Participants express a range of opinions on the benefits and drawbacks of love in relation to success.

Contextual Notes

Some arguments depend on personal definitions of success and happiness, and the discussion includes varying assumptions about the nature of love and its impact on rationality.

Is it better for people who like to aim high to not be in love?

  • Yes

    Votes: 13 40.6%

  • No

    Votes: 19 59.4%
  • Total voters
    32
  • #31
Following LowlyPion's lead, more classic writing on love

http://shakespeare.about.com/od/studentresources/a/shklove.htm
Cyrus said:
Is this the same daughter that was just born?

Cyrus, time flies and you're getting old :biggrin:. My daughter was (in eight days) born two years ago.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
chasely said:
He did marry his cousin, not your normal type of love.
Actually such a practice was not uncommon or unusual in the earlier half of the 20th century (or before) - in US and Europe. There were occurences in my family four or more generations ago.
 
  • #33
George Jones said:
Following LowlyPion's lead, more classic writing on love

http://shakespeare.about.com/od/studentresources/a/shklove.htm


Cyrus, time flies and you're getting old :biggrin:. My daughter was (in eight days) born two years ago.

WOW! I remember seeing pictures of her just being born like it was yesterday...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #34
Astronuc said:
Actually such a practice was not uncommon or unusual in the earlier half of the 20th century (or before) - in US and Europe. There were occurences in my family four or more generations ago.

I would likely attribute that to the greater societal pressure to be married, not to mention the importance of a partner just in running a family unit absent more modern conveniences then, and likely too the fact that people weren't in contact with nearly as many opportunities as today, both with the greater mobility and communication technologies. A smaller pool of available and acceptable partners. I'd think a cousin would naturally be class-wise matched, if not culturally matched as to education and experiences and such and because it was in the family already, it's not like the family could then find the partner unsuitable. It was probably a pretty reasonable choice all things considered at the time.
 
  • #35
LowlyPion said:
I would likely attribute that to the greater societal pressure to be married, not to mention the importance of a partner just in running a family unit absent more modern conveniences then, and likely too the fact that people weren't in contact with nearly as many opportunities as today, both with the greater mobility and communication technologies. A smaller pool of available and acceptable partners. I'd think a cousin would naturally be class-wise matched, if not culturally matched as to education and experiences and such and because it was in the family already, it's not like the family could then find the partner unsuitable. It was probably a pretty reasonable choice all things considered at the time.

Being/getting married is different that 'love' though-----I feel sorry that some have a hard time finding it---The people that I've known that do have a hard time are the people who have a 'trust' issue (maybe, like Einstein)
 
  • #36
tgt said:
is it better to not be in love? You won't be irrational
Love does not imply irrationality. In fact, I don't think that an irrational emotion could possibly be as powerful as the unified desire of heart, body, and mind. If your love is irrational, then keep looking.
 
  • #37
rewebster said:
Being/getting married is different that 'love' though

I've noticed people conflating the two a lot in this thread. Love doesn't require marriage, and marriage can happen without love as well.
 
  • #38
I voted no, though lately I don't know, I feel as if I might come undone.
 
  • #39
Well, to be honest: there was this woman I cared a lot about (I still do); but she hurt me a lot of times, and that disrupted my studies sometimes. So, I would advise anyone to just focus on your work as much as you can (especially in physics).

It can be depressing; but that is why you have to have an anxiety outlet with your friends. Our group at Seton Hall decided to come up with lame Physics pick-up lines--kind of our lame way of dissing love..."Hey baby! You got more curves than a sine function on the integral from negative to positive infinity!"...was always my personal favorite.Something else about being or having an orthogonal vector too, but I swear I always disapproved of that one.

Yes...I know we were lame...but we were self-amused and not going to climb any clock towers from being so lonely at least.
 
  • #40
FrancisZ said:
"Hey baby! You got more curves than a sine function on the integral from negative to positive infinity!"...was always my personal favorite.

I get that one all the time.
 
  • #41
Math Is Hard said:
I get that one all the time.

The biggest groan though, definitely had to be...

"Hey, why don't we make a perfectly inelastic collision together?"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #42
FrancisZ said:
Well, to be honest: there was this woman I cared a lot about (I still do); but she hurt me a lot of times, and that disrupted my studies sometimes. So, I would advise anyone to just focus on your work as much as you can (especially in physics).

I don't think that's OP "love".
 
  • #43
FrancisZ said:
Well, to be honest: there was this woman I cared a lot about (I still do); but she hurt me a lot of times, and that disrupted my studies sometimes. So, I would advise anyone to just focus on your work as much as you can (especially in physics).

But this is part of life; one has to learn these things, and learn to balance relationships and work.
 
  • #44
In response to FrancisZ's bad jokes. I love this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTby_e4-Rhg
 
  • #45
Evo said:
In response to FrancisZ's bad jokes. I love this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTby_e4-Rhg

*edit: I got it! That was excellent! :)

Anyway, my friends from Biology think this is hilarious (and it is). Kind of a mix-up between an Ah ha video and a boy band. Take a look...

http://www.eppendorf.com/int/hawkpopup.php?contentid=13
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #46
FrancisZ said:
My computer stinks. I can't see it.

Definitely check it out when you can on another computer. I love that song! If only life was a logical as maths!
 
  • #47
Moonbear said:
I've noticed people conflating the two a lot in this thread. Love doesn't require marriage, and marriage can happen without love as well.
While this is true, marriage without love or being in love is like a business partnership and that more or less defeats the purpose of being married, especially if kids are not involved. Certainly people can live together or get married for economic reasons, but in the end, I've seen such relationships take a toll on the people involved. I don't recommend it.

It's best to marry one who is one's soulmate, so that each shares their lives with the other and there is mutual support.

I fell in love with a number of women, and even though those relationships didn't continue to marriage, I still love each and everyone for what we shared, and because they are good people.
 
  • #48
FrancisZ said:
*edit: I got it! That was excellent! :)

Anyway, my friends from Biology think this is hilarious (and it is). Kind of a mix-up between an Ah ha video and a boy band. Take a look...

http://www.eppendorf.com/int/hawkpopup.php?contentid=13

I think to be in love is great, as long as you don't let it get in the way of your goals in life.

I liked that video, and I must say it was pretty good :smile:
 
  • #49
Hey, did anyone notice that George Jones guy looks a bit like Einstein in the picture?

:-p
 

Similar threads

What defines a truly smart person?
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
4K
Why I Love Physics: A Personal Reflection on the Fascinating World of Science
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
There are worse things in life than never being someone's sweetie
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
6K
All About Assets (One-Stop Shop Chat Thread)
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
How Do Our Brains Process Tasks Differently?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Starfield: New First-Person Epic Role-Playing Game by BGS
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
I want to help Physics education. What should I do?
  • · Replies 76 ·
3
Replies
76
Views
7K
Do You Trust "Reviews" on Next Door?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
Finding Meaningful Work: Career Advice for Young Scientists
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
What is the key to lasting happiness and emotional security?
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
7K