Enjoyment vs fascination: which is more important?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the importance of enjoyment versus fascination in choosing a field of study, specifically between mathematics and physics. Participants explore personal experiences and perspectives regarding their preferences and motivations in these disciplines.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a dilemma between studying math, which they enjoy, and physics, which they find fascinating.
  • Another participant emphasizes the necessity of having a job to support oneself, suggesting that practical considerations may outweigh personal interests.
  • Some participants argue that enjoyment is more stable than fascination, citing experiences of others who feel more comfortable with math.
  • A participant draws an analogy comparing fascination with basketball to the enjoyment of playing it, questioning the relevance of fascination without enjoyment.
  • Concerns are raised about the challenges of enjoying experimental physics, with one participant suggesting it may be an acquired taste.
  • Another participant advises focusing on enjoyment over fascination and encourages the original poster to reflect on what they enjoy about math and find fascinating about physics.
  • One participant shares their own experience of enjoying math more recently while majoring in physics, expressing uncertainty about their path.
  • A suggestion is made to study both math and physics, highlighting the overlap between the two fields and advocating for a broader educational approach.
  • Another participant notes the necessity of choosing a specific focus for graduate school, indicating that specialization may be required later in academic pursuits.
  • Some participants mention that physics can be seen as a means to engage with mathematics, which may influence how individuals perceive their studies.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the importance of enjoyment versus fascination, with no clear consensus reached. Some prioritize enjoyment, while others highlight the significance of fascination. The discussion remains unresolved regarding which aspect is more critical in choosing a field of study.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of uncertainty about their preferences and future academic paths, indicating that personal experiences and external factors may influence their decisions. The discussion reflects a mix of subjective viewpoints without definitive conclusions.

diligence
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I'm trying to decide whether i should dedicate my studies to math or to physics. I find that physics is utterly fascinating and tends to excite me more than math. But when I'm studying, i actually enjoy doing mathematics more than doing physics. So I've narrowed my decision down to the question of whether it's more important to enjoy what you study, or if it's more important to be excited/fascinated by what you study.

What do you think?
 
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it's most important to have a job, so you can eat. Then you can study all sorts of things.
 
Which is more important to you :)
 
enjoyment. Fascination seems more likely to come and go. I have known two math and physics double majors already who say they feel more comfortable with math.
 
Just imagine being fascinated with basketball and not enjoy playing it (or training for it).

But I guess this isn't a very good analogy since you did not say that you don't enjoy physics.
 
Last edited:
llynne said:
it's most important to have a job, so you can eat. Then you can study all sorts of things.

I heard starvation makes the most out of people. (look at Abel, most of his life he was pennyless, almost).
 
Pengwuino said:
Which is more important to you :)

pretty sure i established the fact that I'm not sure yet ;)

edit: well, maybe not...but cmon, isn't it obvious :)
 
Headacheguy said:
Just imagine being fascinated with basketball and not enjoy playing it (or training for it).

But I guess this isn't a very good analogy since you did not say that you don't enjoy physics.

after a month of modern physics lab I'm beginning to form the opinion that experimental physics is damn tough to enjoy!
 
diligence said:
after a month of modern physics lab I'm beginning to form the opinion that experimental physics is damn tough to enjoy!

I think for a lot of people experimental physics is an acquired taste!
 
  • #10
Masochism is the thing that keeps me going.:cry:
 
  • #11
Well, I'd say go for what you enjoy. Fascination alone is not good enough, in my opinion...

But, just in case, may I ask you what it is you enjoy about math? And why do you find physics fascinating. These questions help us to form a picture of who you are, and whether your expectancies are realistic.

And don't trust on the judgement of other. If you met people who said that math was more interesting than physics, then this opinion shouldn't matter to you. You may very well be different than these persons...
 
  • #12
I'm having the same dilemma... I'm majoring in physics but lately I've reached a point where I've begun enjoying mathematics more than ever before and I'm unsure what I should do. For one thing, if I major in mathematics instead of physics I can probably graduate a semester or two early because I took a bunch of math classes but just recently began taking my physics courses this semester.
 
  • #13
Why do you have to choose anyway? Try to do as much as both as you can I say. I'm studying biochemistry, math and physics (I'm only majoring in biochemistry but I'm studying as much of the other two as I can. If I plan right I can get a major in one and a minor in the other) There is so much overlap between the two disciplines anyway that to choose between them I think is like choosing which side of the mouth to use to chew. Just do as much as both as you can. Maybe later you will have to choose one to stick with more but for now I suggest to broaden your studies.
 
  • #14
Delong said:
Why do you have to choose anyway?
For grad school where you have to stick with one department.
 
  • #15
What is your mind-set? Can you settle down with a lover that you have a good relationship with, or do you want to explore short-term flings? Be honest.
 
  • #16
That's true that you have to eventually settle on one thing for Graduate School. What I'm finding out in college is that the farther along in school I get the more specific I have to be about what I want to study. But it was my understanding that dilligence is still in early years of College right?
 
  • #17
Some people say they do physics as an "excuse" for doing maths. You might find this kind of insight helpful.
 

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