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guslThe reason scientists are interested in what they do is the same reason that people like to hear gossip about people they know: understanding one's environment. In the case of scientists, this is extended to include one's mental environment. (Is this what Keith Devlin meant by "math is like gossip"?)
I used to think that there was a Platonic realm of interesting topics, but lately I've realized that you *become* engaged in what you see, maybe as a result of the mental investment (the initial costs have already been paid). Once you've thought enough about a problem, you're hooked. As Feynman used to say, anything can be interesting if you look close enough.
The more you think about a certain topic, the more interesting it becomes to you... maybe this is similar to the way in which people fall more in love with each other once they make a commitment.
Other sources of motivation:
* tackling challenges to prove to oneself that one understands
* social: engaging in debates to defend one's view
People are also self-absorbed: I myself am fascinated about the way I think. This is especially motivating if one is in the field of AI or cogsci.
I used to think that there was a Platonic realm of interesting topics, but lately I've realized that you *become* engaged in what you see, maybe as a result of the mental investment (the initial costs have already been paid). Once you've thought enough about a problem, you're hooked. As Feynman used to say, anything can be interesting if you look close enough.
The more you think about a certain topic, the more interesting it becomes to you... maybe this is similar to the way in which people fall more in love with each other once they make a commitment.
Other sources of motivation:
* tackling challenges to prove to oneself that one understands
* social: engaging in debates to defend one's view
People are also self-absorbed: I myself am fascinated about the way I think. This is especially motivating if one is in the field of AI or cogsci.