A 73-year-old PhD recipient reflects on their decision to pursue graduate studies in philosophy at The New School for Social Research, revealing that they had no intention of seeking a new career or credential. Instead, they sought to indulge in "learning for the sake of learning", fueled by their innate desire to know. This individual's experience is cited as an example of how one's pursuit of knowledge can intensify with age, particularly after leaving demanding careers behind. The author now aims to share lessons learned from their intensive study years, intended to encourage others considering a similar path in retirement.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
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Story summary
Robert Mass, a 73-year-old man who previously had a successful career as a prosecutor for Manhattan district attorney Robert Morgenthau and a compliance officer and partner at Goldman Sachs, has just defended his 350-page dissertation at The New School for Social Research (NSSR). Unlike many of his fellow philosophy graduate students, Mass chose to pursue a PhD in his 70s, rather than earlier in life when he was busy with a career. He had always wanted to learn for the sake of learning, but was finally able to devote himself to it after achieving success in law and business. Mass's experience supports Aristotle's idea that "All men by nature desire to know," and suggests that this desire does not diminish with age. In fact, Mass found that his desire to learn grew stronger once he was free from the demands of career and personal ambition.
Written for “Learning Never Has An Expiration Date” on 2026-09-05,
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Leaning score +0.15 for article 3987 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-04
Earlier this summer, after I successfully defended my 350-page dissertation, my adviser shook my hand and said, “Congratulations, Dr. Mass.”
asserted
adviser → defend → hand
Like my fellow philosophy graduate students at The New School for Social Research (NSSR), I had spent the previous half decade studying Aristotle and Hegel, writing about Spinoza and John Dewey, and learning Ancient Greek and Latin.
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I → spend → Greek
I was not at NSSR because I needed a credential or new career.
asserted
I → need → credential
Rather, after a successful life in both law and business—principally as a prosecutor for Manhattan district attorney Robert Morgenthau and as a compliance officer and partner at Goldman Sachs—I had finally reached the point where I could devote myself to what I wanted all along: to learn for the sake of learning.
uncertain
I → reach → learning
I admit, my precise path is not for everyone, but something like it may be for you.
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something → admit → you
Aristotle famously begins his Metaphysics by stating that “All men by nature desire to know.”
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men → begin → nature
As I found, that desire does not diminish with age.
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desire → find → age
If anything, once freed from the gnawing demands of career and personal ambition, it can become stronger.
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it → free → career
You too likely have that “desire to know.”
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You → have → desire
Your mind needs exercise and care every bit as much as your body does.
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body → need → exercise
The strong temptation upon retiring from a demanding career is to breathe a sigh of relief, shut off your mind, and play.
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temptation → retire → mind
This urge may be especially powerful now that AI is increasingly able to do our thinking for us.
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AI → do → us
Learning new things will satisfy the hunger to know that we all share, bring you pleasure, and keep your mind sharp.
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we → learn → mind
Here are some of the lessons I have drawn from these recent years of intensive study that might be helpful to those of you considering a similar lifestyle during your retirement years.
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that → draw → years
