Infinite Life: Trapped in a lifetime

Before the graduate school term officially begins,

Mo Dao and Qin Huaishi returned to school.

The days that followed became dull and regular again.

Qin Huaishi joined the group and entered the postgraduate level of study and research.

Mo Dao also reported to Professor Yang's office.

Professor Yang told Mo Dao that he also arranged a desk in the office.

Then he gave Mo Dao a stack of books and a book list.

Let Mo Dao take the time to watch it, and that will be the end.

There is no requirement for how many books should be read at any time.

Mo Dao was not asked to write any reading notes or summary essays.

It was also made clear that no memorization test would be conducted on the contents of these books.

"...I don't know that your basic knowledge is already very solid. Just read these books written by predecessors. Or if they are useful, just read them. If you think they are useless, that's up to you."

I don’t know about others, but Professor Yang is very tolerant towards Mo Dao.

With a wave of his hand, it can be said that Mo Dao was given considerable freedom.

"Philosophical research, to put it bluntly, apart from referring to the thoughts of predecessors, is accumulation and thinking. Even if you want to take a new path, the thoughts of predecessors may not be of much help."

It can be said that Professor Yang has high hopes for Mo Dao.

"The postgraduate stage is basically the initial stage for philosophical research, and few great thinkers have perfected their ideas in their early twenties."

"Don't worry, you can just accumulate slowly at this stage. Don't worry too much about graduation. It might be a few years later."

"Well, thank you Professor Yang."

Mo Dao nodded,

Next to him, another master's student of Professor Yang plucked out his already thin hair.

With some confusion about knowledge in his eyes, he raised his head and looked at the generous Professor Yang.

That's not what Professor Yang said some time ago when he was urged to hand in his graduation thesis.

"By the way. Mo Dao, how is your...financial situation?"

Professor Yang paused and asked a question that must be asked when studying philosophy.

"If you're nervous, I can arrange a job as a teaching assistant for you."

"good."

"That's no problem. Then I don't have to worry about it. You can arrange your work yourself."

Professor Yang nodded with satisfaction.

It’s not that I have any objections to students from poor families.

But if the economic conditions are not good, studying philosophy is really not a good choice.

After all, unless you take another path of practical philosophy,

Otherwise, the economic gains from engaging in academic research in philosophy will be mediocre.

Nothing more was said,

Professor Yang turned around and left again.

Mo Dao sat behind his desk, picked up a book, read it, then closed it and put it down.

Just sitting there calmly, thinking about something.

here,

This reflects the huge gap in the study careers of graduate students in science and engineering and liberal arts.

Graduate students in science and engineering are most likely to be in the laboratory all day long, and group meetings are held non-stop.

For liberal arts, there are roughly two extremes.

One is to study for graduate school in name, but in fact it is to work as a cheap labor force under the boss.

The other is pure stocking.

By the time they graduate, graduate students may not be familiar with their supervisors.

For science subjects, graduation thesis can also be different solutions to some known problems.

For engineering students, it can be some unnecessary process improvements.

For liberal arts, especially philosophy, this kind of purely ideological research.

If you want to achieve anything at the postgraduate level, it is really a bit fanciful.

What are you studying, some phenomena in human society?

That seems to be closer to the content of sociology and anthropology research,

Study the ideas in philosophical works and introduce new ones?

For most people, a graduation thesis is probably just a matter of rewriting the ideas that predecessors have come up with in their own words.

And this is enough for most people to rack their brains.

And if you really want to make some achievements, then...a bunch of names that are shining brightly even in human history are lying in front of you.

And philosophical research,

Is it important to say it?

In a sense, it is actually quite important.

According to some accounts, the philosophy tree and the technology tree probably go hand in hand.

The human philosophy tree is not climbed high enough, and there is a high probability that it will restrict the technology tree from moving forward.

It is almost inevitable that in the development of science and technology, sooner or later something will appear that is unacceptable to current human philosophy.

Whether something is right or wrong, philosophy is probably the lowest standard of judgment.

"...Modao, would you like some tea?"

At this time, Professor Yang took out a can of tea from the drawer and shook it towards Mo Dao.

After a few minutes,

The master and apprentice each made a cup of hot tea at their respective desks.

Professor Yang is a person who purely likes philosophical research.

It can be said that he is somewhat free and easy, or rather free-spirited.

certainly,

Not everyone is so relaxed.

For example, in the office.

Professor Yang, another master's student who is busy writing his graduation thesis, is Mo Dao's fellow senior in this life and is always very busy.

Constantly flipping through books, papers, and information... maybe this is the norm.

…

In the following time, Mo Dao lived more and more regularly.

Qin Huaishi was very busy studying and researching every day, so Mo Dao did not bother Qin Huaishi's study.

Mo Dao spends his days basically at the same time.

In the morning, I had breakfast with Qin Huaishi and the two briefly talked.

After that, Qin Huaishi went to the laboratory,

Mo Dao went to Professor Yang's office.

Then, the master and the apprentice would have a cup of tea each for a day.

Professor Yang still has some teaching and research work to deal with.

Mo Dao is just a graduate student and does not have any of these contents.

Basically, you sit in the office for a whole day.

In fact, Professor Yang didn't care if he went out. At most, he didn't see anyone until noon the next day.

Ask where Mo Dao is.

There would be no urging Mo Dao to come back from outside, since it would be okay to come back anyway.

In the evening, the office closes.

Mo Dao either waited for a while or left.

Look at how busy Qin Huaishi is over there.

After the two people left the laboratory with Qin Huaishi,

Walk along campus, or on the streets outside campus, and have dinner or a late-night snack.

Qin Huai Shihui will tell Mo Dao some interesting things or troubles during today's study and research.

Mo Dao stayed quiet most of the time and listened quietly.

I will also talk to Qin Huaishi about things in his office.

Qin Huaishi also listened carefully.

…

The days in this life are much duller.

Not so vigorous and exciting.

Not like a roaring waterfall that trembles and washes the earth,

More like a gurgling mountain stream,

Calm, but just a trickle.

It seemed that this relieved a lot of the irritability accumulated in Mo Dao's heart.

In this life,

It can be said that Mo Dao has no goals. The only thing he can do is to accompany Qin Huaishi.

Some are lazy, even aimless, walking in the wilderness of life.

It's a bit like being reborn as a traveler for the first time.

In this life,

For Mo Dao,

It's like sleeping in all day,

Even though it was already afternoon when I woke up, I had done nothing all day long.

But it doesn't seem that sad.

time,

It just flowed down so calmly and quickly.

One year, two years, three years...

…

After studying for a master's degree for three years and drinking tea for three years,

Mo Dao took out a graduation thesis at the right time, and after receiving praise from Professor Yang,

Successfully passed the defense and graduated.

Then,

Mo Dao returned to Professor Yang and studied for a Ph.D. for another three years.

It was almost time, and Mo Dao took out a graduation thesis.