FortKnox's Journal: Were Einstein and Newton Autistic?

Here's a neat little article hypothesizing that Einstein and Newton had a rare form of Autism, Asperger syndrome.

The condition, first described by Viennese physician Hans Asperger in 1944, is a disorder that causes deficiencies in social and communication skills and obsessive interests. But it does not affect learning or intellect and many people with AS have exceptional talents or skills.

Looks like Newton was a dead ringer for Aspergers, but they are just shooting in the dark with Einstein. Something mental had to be special with these physics forefathers...

(I submitted it, but it got rejected)

hmm

[asv108]

I'm not an MD or shrink, but Newton:likely, Einstein: no way.. You can also be obsessive and antisocial and not have Aspergers. Its reminiscent to me of every hyperactive kid being labeled. as ADD in the 90's..

Re:hmm

[Otter]

...or how in the '80s, every famous dead person was said to have been dyslexic -- Thomas Jefferson, da Vinci, Galileo, Alexander the Great. It makes me extremely suspicious of how responsibly these people can diagnose living people given the complete disregard with which they make claims about the dead.

Anyway, Einstein was a little odd and abset-minded, but he was a charming person who could certainly make conversation. There was no resemblance to the Aspergers kids I've seen.

Einstein, not likely.

[Xerithane]

The condition, first described by Viennese physician Hans Asperger in 1944, is a disorder that causes deficiencies in social and communication skills and obsessive interests. But it does not affect learning or intellect and many people with AS have exceptional talents or skills.

There is no way that Einstein was... he wasn't anti-social. He was usually absent minded, but so am I, and I don't think that makes me autistic, or have AS. If you read any of what Einstein himself wrote, you would doubt that as

Re:Einstein, not likely.

[linzeal]

I am getting more and more into the use of bomb was correct side, even as an anarchist. The atrocities that the japanese committed were not "deserving" of massive civilian casualties in return, however; all considered they did stop them from slaughtering even more people including their own in a last ditch effort against invading US forces. Nuclear diplomacy has brought a peace to superpowers at least, the exploitation of countries without WMD is nothing to be proud of though.

Re:Einstein, not likely.

[Xerithane]

I am getting more and more into the use of bomb was correct side, even as an anarchist. The atrocities that the japanese committed were not "deserving" of massive civilian casualties in return, however; all considered they did stop them from slaughtering even more people including their own in a last ditch effort against invading US forces. Nuclear diplomacy has brought a peace to superpowers at least, the exploitation of countries without WMD is nothing to be proud of though.

I don't know how I feel about

B. Gates

[gmhowell]

I've heard that Bill Gates has Asperger's.

Wapner...definitely Wapner

[einstein]

Yeah... Definitely Austistic..Yeah.

K-Mart Sucks.

This old joke about nick brought to you by the number e. Definitely.

Asperger's...

[KshGoddess]

I kind of take offense to how easily people are labeled as autistic these days. As I have a brother who has autism, and have seen it first-hand, I shudder to think that there are that many undiagnosed cases. As with many 'diseases' of the mind, there are differing levels of autism, from the mildly autistic (Asperger's) high-functioning peope to the profoundly autistic, who have thoroughly disconnected from the world.

I think it's just another of those "Let's try to explain everything with our new theory" th