09-26-2005, 03:06 PM
COMMENTARY
Debunking Some Cultural Autism
From a column by Steve Mirsky, ANTIGRAVITY in Scientific American,
"Additions and Corrections Making a case for a new planet and two dead
stars."
http:/ tinyurl.com/a9ydl
Twice in this space (August 2003 and June 2005), I noted that British
researchers hypothesized that Newton and Einstein might have had Asperger's
syndrome, a form of autism. The more recent claim prompted a letter from
David Green of the New School in New York City. Here are highlights from
that letter, because the whole letter would fill this entire page, and
management might wonder why they're paying me and not David Green.
Green began, "You run a fine column." (The phrase "into the ground"
seemed to hang in the air.) He then pointed out my reference to the two
great physicists possibly having Asperger's and wrote, "You should let this
particular piece of foolishness lie. As someone who teaches a course on
revolutions in science, I have read umpteen biographies of these men." (I
looked up "umpteen," which was defined as the number of incorrect ball and
strike calls made in a Major League Baseball game.) Green continued, "The
sensible conclusion: Newton could (at least arguably) be afflicted with
Asperger's syndrome. Einstein could not."
Green then compared the two physicists. "Newton was emotionally
frigid, actively discouraged human contact, was known to laugh only once in
his life (when a fellow student asked what use Euclid could be), and died
bragging that he was a virgin and thus uncontaminated. Therefore, I'll give
the good doctors Newton if they feel they need him, but even Newton is a
debatable case. When Einstein died, Bohr eulogized him by saying that the
loss to the world was a great physicist, but the loss to those who knew him
was his unique warmth and kindness. He loved wine, women and song (perhaps
too much of the middle one), had close and deep friendships all his life,
and was funny and a fully social being." In retrospect, diagnosing the
mental condition of the dead based on decades- or centuries-old anecdotal
evidence does seem somewhat questionable. It would be like a cardiologist
practicing teleneurology by watching a few minutes of an old videotape and
declaring that the patient shown is not in a persistent vegetative state.
One might call such medical practice Mickey Mouse.
Back to geniuses. "The chances that Einstein was a case of even mild
autism," Green concluded, "are about as great as the chances that you are or
I am Queen Elizabeth."
We are amused.
Debunking Some Cultural Autism
From a column by Steve Mirsky, ANTIGRAVITY in Scientific American,
"Additions and Corrections Making a case for a new planet and two dead
stars."
http:/ tinyurl.com/a9ydl
Twice in this space (August 2003 and June 2005), I noted that British
researchers hypothesized that Newton and Einstein might have had Asperger's
syndrome, a form of autism. The more recent claim prompted a letter from
David Green of the New School in New York City. Here are highlights from
that letter, because the whole letter would fill this entire page, and
management might wonder why they're paying me and not David Green.
Green began, "You run a fine column." (The phrase "into the ground"
seemed to hang in the air.) He then pointed out my reference to the two
great physicists possibly having Asperger's and wrote, "You should let this
particular piece of foolishness lie. As someone who teaches a course on
revolutions in science, I have read umpteen biographies of these men." (I
looked up "umpteen," which was defined as the number of incorrect ball and
strike calls made in a Major League Baseball game.) Green continued, "The
sensible conclusion: Newton could (at least arguably) be afflicted with
Asperger's syndrome. Einstein could not."
Green then compared the two physicists. "Newton was emotionally
frigid, actively discouraged human contact, was known to laugh only once in
his life (when a fellow student asked what use Euclid could be), and died
bragging that he was a virgin and thus uncontaminated. Therefore, I'll give
the good doctors Newton if they feel they need him, but even Newton is a
debatable case. When Einstein died, Bohr eulogized him by saying that the
loss to the world was a great physicist, but the loss to those who knew him
was his unique warmth and kindness. He loved wine, women and song (perhaps
too much of the middle one), had close and deep friendships all his life,
and was funny and a fully social being." In retrospect, diagnosing the
mental condition of the dead based on decades- or centuries-old anecdotal
evidence does seem somewhat questionable. It would be like a cardiologist
practicing teleneurology by watching a few minutes of an old videotape and
declaring that the patient shown is not in a persistent vegetative state.
One might call such medical practice Mickey Mouse.
Back to geniuses. "The chances that Einstein was a case of even mild
autism," Green concluded, "are about as great as the chances that you are or
I am Queen Elizabeth."
We are amused.
