Feynman's 'Play With Physics' Philosophy Resonates With AI-Era Learners Burned Out on Utility Maximization

yacineMTB · x · 2026-10-21

akbirthko reflects on AI-era learning anxiety: instead of utility-maximizing what's worth learning, adopt Feynman's attitude from Surely You're Joking — after burnout, he decided to "play with physics" for fun, no importance required, and the famous spinning-plate doodle in a cafeteria grew into Nobel-winning work. His quote about studying what interests you "in the most undisciplined, irreverent and original manner possible" struck a chord, with readers calling it advice "for AI" too.

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