[T]he urge to find a mate drives us — particularly men, it seems — to increase our productivity and make bigger investments in human capital (e.g. education) than we otherwise would. It’s also suggestive that so much creative genius — in fields as diverse as physics and jazz — seems to peak before or around 30. And, that marriage seems to have a negative impact on productivity in such fields.
Thing is.. that "peaking before or around 30" is bunk. I've linked other studies that show many academic fields peaking at around 50 and not dropping off much after that.
However, the sex part is true. You don't need to commission a study to realize that. I've been saying it for years. It's pretty obvious.
....
Being 43, I can sense a change in the way I think. It's not as sharp.. and vibrant, you could say. All my senses are dulling in that way as time moves forward. However, a deeper grasp of things has replaced the vitality.
If you've read the Esquire piece on Roger Ebert, you'll know what I mean. Ebert isn't the animated and quick witted chubby guy on the teevee anymore. The edge is off his movie reviews, but it's all been replaced with vigor of a different sort.
It's hard to explain, but I suppose it's not unusual that all the greatest philosophers contributed the most towards the end of their lives. At least that's my observation.
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