Don’t Believe the Myth: “Master Math, Physics, and Chemistry, and You’ll Be Unafraid in Any Situation” – The Real Truth About Surviving in the Real World
Hello everyone, I’m your financial journalist friend. Today we’re going to discuss an article with a somewhat long title, but its core message is quite profound and even a bit counterintuitive.
The author, from “Ganges Park,” doesn’t talk about specific stock market fluctuations or macroeconomic data; instead, they break down a slogan we’ve all heard since childhood: “Master Math, Physics, and Chemistry, and you’ll be unafraid in any situation.”
To summarize the article in simple terms: This saying was once a simple piece of wisdom for survival, but today it has become an illusion that deceives us.
The author argues that we place too much faith in the sense of security that “personal skills” provide, thinking that with enough ability, we can escape the control of relationships, platforms, or others. However, the reality is that the more skilled we are, the easier it is for machines (AI) to replace us. What truly makes us “unafraid” is not our skills, but the “position” we hold and the “network of relationships” we’re part of.
Below, I’ll break down the article into five key points to explain in clearer language.
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1. “Making a Living with Your Skills” is a Necessity for the Weak, Not a Barrier for the Strong
Many people think, “I don’t rely on connections or background; I just use my hands and brain to make a living. How clean and free that is!”
The author calls this the “ethics of the weak.”
Why? Because when you don’t own property (like a factory or land), don’t have organizational resources (like being a boss), or don’t hold a key position that others must go through, your only assets are “your time” and “your skills.”
You can only hope that “what you do is truly useful, and the boss/client will pay you.”
This mindset sounds inspiring, but it has a big flaw: it assumes that “usefulness” equals “safety.”
It’s like a chef who thinks their skills are so good that everyone has to hire them. But what if the central kitchen’s prepared food technology improves, or AI can cook automatically? Your skills instantly become less valuable.
Key Points:
- Skills are not assets; they are consumables. For two hundred years, the Industrial Revolution has been about removing skills from humans. The expertise of master craftsmen has become standards, and their actions have been automated by machines.
- AI is the ultimate goal. Machines replaced physical labor; now AI is replacing mental labor. The more useful and standardized a skill is, the more organizations are motivated to automate it to reduce reliance on individual employees.
- Conclusion: What you think is “irreplaceable” might just be a “single point of failure” in the eyes of a company. Companies would prefer to document your knowledge so anyone can do your job, leaving you with no bargaining power.
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2. The “One-Man Company” is a Myth; You Can’t Live Without Social Infrastructure
The article mentions an extreme example: Lou Feng (a metaphor for independent workers, such as freelancers or those in certain industries).
Many envy this freedom: attracting clients, setting prices, and delivering work without having to please a boss or deal with colleagues.
But the author dispels this illusion: This “independence” is an illusion, backed by a vast social infrastructure.
Lou Feng’s ability to escape traditional control (like brothels or pimps) depends on:
- A safe environment;
- Mobile phones and the internet for low-cost client acquisition;
- Transportation and payment systems for completing transactions;
- Legal and social norms for protection.
If safety deteriorates, information costs increase, or violence rises, she’ll quickly fall back into dependent relationships.
Key Points:
- There is no such thing as absolute independence. You feel independent because the social system takes on most of the risks for you.
- Dependence is hidden. We view “not relying on connections” as a virtue, but you’re valuable because you’re part of a network.
- Conclusion: Don’t overestimate your independence. You’re not fighting alone; you’re just a cog in the social machine. If the machine stops, your skills are useless.
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3. Your Value Lies Not in You, but in Your Position and Relationships
This is the most mind-shifting part of the article.
We tend to conduct a “vacuum test”: removing connections, platforms, and positions to see how much value we have left. If it’s little, we think we’re incompetent.
The author says this test is wrong.
A house is meaningless without its land; yet with people, we ask, “How much am I worth without a platform?”
True value is embedded in the structure.
- A lawyer’s value isn’t in how many laws they know (that AI can do), but in which systems they’re familiar with, who they can approach, and who trusts them.
- A salesperson’s value isn’t in their persuasive skills, but in their client network and who knows them.
- A manager’s value isn’t in their personal abilities, but in the industry network and trust they’ve built over years.
The article also mentions two concepts: nepotism and Number One (the person in charge).
- Nepotism: When subordinates use organizational power to build their own networks, the relationships generate revenue.
- Number One: The organization creates a high-paying position to buy loyalty and obedience. This person may be ordinary or replaceable, but their position gives them power.
- Key Points: Individuals are replaceable, but positions are essential. Doctors can be replaced, but the profession doesn’t disappear.
- Standardization brings stability. A mature community doesn’t need every member to be exceptional; it just needs standardized processes. It matters that someone from our team is there.
- Conclusion: Focus on occupying an irreplaceable position, not on being irreplaceable.
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4. “Not Being Afraid” is a Form of Self-Deception; Reading People’s Faces is a Survival Strategy
The slogan “Be unafraid in any situation” ultimately boils down to “not being afraid.”
The author says this is self-deception.
- Being afraid or not doesn’t depend on whether you can be fired; the boss can still fire you. Being terrified won’t change anything.
- Ignoring people’s reactions is like crossing the road blindly. Their emotions are information. Trying to prove you’re independent by ignoring them is as foolish as crossing the road blindly.
Many people’s so-called “pride” is just adding unnecessary complexity.
They choose a more costly way of dealing with situations (apologizing, pretending to be stupid, etc.) because they don’t want to appear weak.
In the end, all that remains is the illusion of being “prideful.”
Key Points:
- Personality requirements are like rent. To prove you’re part of the group, you pay the price; to prove you’re independent, you pay another price. These costs are not necessary.
- Strategy is more important than stance. Use relationships when useful, occupy positions when beneficial, and accept help when needed. Change when it’s not worth it.
- Conclusion: Don’t treat independence as a moral burden. Be flexible when necessary, and be firm when needed. Survival is about strategy, not performance.
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5. The Cruel Truth of the AI Era: Those Who Can Work Will Be Replaced First, Those Who Attend Meetings Will Survive
Finally, the author brings the topic to the current AI trend.
Many assume AI will eliminate those who are idle, keeping only those with real skills.
But the reality might be the opposite.
- AI can easily handle tasks with clear outcomes (coding, drawing, analyzing, etc.).
- AI struggles with tasks that require coordination, approval, and trust.
This leads to a troubling scenario:
Skilled workers will be replaced first because their work is standardized.
Those who stay will continue with meetings, coordination, and relationship maintenance.
Key Points:
- The more skilled you are, the more vulnerable you are, as standardization makes you replaceable.
- Uncertainty is a form of protection. In the AI era, soft skills (coordination, political wisdom, trust-building) become advantages.
- Conclusion: Mastering math, physics, and chemistry isn’t enough. In the AI era, being able to work is a prerequisite for survival, not an advantage.
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Conclusion: What Should We Do?
The author says they didn’t master math, physics, or chemistry, and they haven’t traveled the world. They’re not sure if they’re afraid, but being afraid is useless and meaningless.
This article isn’t about giving up on learning or using connections or nepotism. It’s a reminder:
1. Don’t rely on skills as your only safety net. Skills are tools, not your identity.
2. Don’t be obsessed with independence. You need social infrastructure and relationships.
3. Don’t treat pride as a survival strategy. Reading people’s faces, compromising, and collaborating are normal survival methods.
4. Be wary of AI’s replacement logic. The more standardized and quantifiable your work, the more vulnerable you are.
In closing, the author says:
“The slogan ‘Master Math, Physics, and Chemistry, and you’ll be unafraid in any situation’ was once harmless; it just expressed a simple wish too thoroughly.”
But decades later, the reality doesn’t match this ideal.
You can still learn these subjects and explore the world, but whether you’re afraid or not… it doesn’t really matter.
Thanks to AI, those of us with less formal education (like those who are good at coordination, networking, and non-standardized tasks) might end up controlling the world.
*(Note: The term “rogues” here is used ironically to refer to people who, despite lacking formal skills, possess key organizational resources and networks.)*