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Is it healthy for society to spend 20 years (and increasing) of schooling to get maybe 5-10 years of peak scientific output from a person, though?

Wouldn't it be interesting if we could witness geniuses honing their unique thoughtcraft over millennia? Just how much advanced culture are we missing due to ephemeral, short-lived, desperate nature of our best and brightest?



Fair point!

But I'd counter there are biochemical reasons the best work comes during such a short span.

It'll likely end up being easier to extend that neurologically peak productive period further into late middle age, than stretch an entire lifespan (which may or may not extend that period anyway).




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