Art, literature and philosophy do not give you social and politicTtyal skills. You learn those things on the playground, the locker room, church, etc.twofish-quant said:One thing that I would strongly advise is not to focus exclusively on theoretical physics. You should get an education that includes a lot of art, literature, and philosophy. One reason for this is that you'll find that getting what you want involves developing social and political skills along with technical ones.
Part of learning to be a theoretical physics is learning about how to use your skills when you find that there are no jobs in theoretical physics.
Something else that would be useful is to do a lot of math puzzles, subscribe to some magazines like the New Scientist or Astronomy, learn programming and electrical engineering, and get used to reading/learning stuff that wasn't assigned.
FuturePhDBen said:I am still in middle school, just getting inducted in the NJHS and hoping to get into the IB program. I really what to get into a career in Theoretical Physics, is there anything i can do to help make my dreams of becoming a Theoretical Physicist a reality?
Anything would help!
-Ben
I think it is great to read literature and philosophy as achievements of the human mind on par with science but to read them with a view to getting "practical" insight on day-to-day interaction seems to me to be misguided. In fact in the situations you describe, it is sufficient to be up on current events and know follow the local sports team and be able to discuss those with some conviction.chiro said:I think you're missing the point of what two-fish is saying.
Working with other people and in fact being around other people means that if you know things like philosophy, literature or things that aren't related to just science then you have a perspective that you otherwise wouldn't have if you just read math all day which is important when you have to deal with people in general whether its if your working directly under them, or any other kind of situation.
This sounds like something an academic would say. The study of art, literature and philosophy will not do you a whit of good in a company setting. What will help you is a study of people such as you will get from participating in team sports, volunteering, doing extracurricular activities such as debate team, Boy Scouts, etc.chiro said:Reading things in the arts helps put things into a perspective that can help you not only understand yourself but also everybody else around you.
Also when you are in a hierarchy with some kind of authority structure like you find in a company, political awareness is a very good skill to have. Diplomacy is not just for foreign ambassadors: it is a life and survival skill and it comes in handy when you have to deal with many situations.
The OP may be the one who needs advice, even if it comes from people who have "never taken a calculus class"chiro said:Knowing what to say and what not to say is a life skill and it doesn't stop at work. Reading social situations, understanding what is going on and dealing in situations where you are not the one calling the shots is really important and it's not just for being a brown noser or a suckup.
The thing is, in life, people depend on other people and if you don't realize this, then you are going to get a big slap in face when you go out there and try to work with other people especially if they have never taken a calculus class, don't give a stuff about science and don't really care about math in the slightest: but they need you to give them advice which they understand or do something that while they need, don't care about in the slightest as long as you do what you do.
chiro said:Keep that in mind.
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that deals with developing and testing theories to explain the fundamental laws of nature. It involves using mathematical models and experiments to understand the behavior of physical systems and phenomena.
A career in theoretical physics requires a strong foundation in mathematics, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, creativity, and the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively. Additionally, experience with computer programming and data analysis can also be beneficial.
To become a theoretical physicist, one typically needs a Ph.D. in physics or a related field. This involves completing coursework in advanced mathematics, physics, and research methods, as well as conducting original research and writing a dissertation.
Some common career paths in theoretical physics include becoming a research scientist in academia or industry, working for government agencies or national laboratories, or becoming a science writer or educator. Many theoretical physicists also pursue postdoctoral research positions after completing their Ph.D.
Some current areas of research in theoretical physics include quantum mechanics, string theory, cosmology, and particle physics. There is also ongoing research in areas such as condensed matter, astrophysics, and high-energy physics, among others.