Ask HN: Staying Focused on the Meaningful Stuff?

[dannyism]

I want to start a business because I think capitalism might be a great way to accomplish big, meaningful things, but I keep feeling like I'm getting obsessed with money and missing the point. How do you guys stay focused on the bigger picture?

[tolerance]

Are you in the market for something to believe in or do you already have something in mind? You haven’t disclosed what the meaningful stuff that you’re losing focus on is.

[dannyism]

I want to study human cognition (actually I already do), but there's no money in it. Yet, anyway.

[tolerance]

What meaningfulness do you feel can be found in human cognition in relation to a 'bigger picture'? What is the end-all, be-all that you imagine?

[dannyism]

Some parts of human intelligence can translate to machine intelligence (like how neurons inspired deep learning). Also, new ways of modeling and treating mental illness. Those are just the first two that come to mind.

[tolerance]

So what?

(I’m asking rhetorically, what I really want to know is why this is meaningful to you, but ask yourself that question as though I was being irreverent to your ambitions and let me know what comes out).

[dannyism]

Something is inherently cool to me about solving deep mysteries, I guess.