Einstein was Autistic

I am growing increasingly fascinated by the idea that some of the world's most gifted people may have been - or are - on the spectrum.

Some examples you often hear:

- Albert Einstein

- Thomas Jefferson

- Bill Gates

- Sir Isaac Newton

Let me be clear in a couple things: First, I think that only a psychologist or psychiatrist can truly diagnose anyone with an autistic spectrum disorder.  I like to play armchair psychologist.  I am no expert.  But I can read reported facts and draw conclusions from them.

Second, there is value to identifying whether or not these people were likely on the spectrum.

Some people suggest that the value of doing so is some kind of vanity.  My fellow blogger, an autistic named Jonathan Mitchell, is one of them.  

In his post "Undiagnosing Gates, Jefferson and Einstein," he implies that this whole strand of argumentation is an exercise in vanity on the part of parents and autism advocates:

"Should it give hope to parents after finding out what others allegedly autistic have been able to do? If it's possible for these persons, why not their child? It has been claimed that because these allegedly autistic persons have been able to do these things that this gives hope to others who are on the spectrum."

Mitchell may be autistic, but he's smart - and he's subtle, too. 

This is the standard weapon used to undercut the argument that some of the world's most exceptional - and unusual - thinkers were on the spectrum.  It's a very subtle form of character assassination, really.

Beyond Parental Vanity and Pollyanna Dreams

It seeks to ridicule the psychologists who have identified spectrum traits in these great thinkers by impugning their very motives - and thus undercutting the credibility of everything they say.

Meanwhile, Mitchell clearly states his own motivation for writing his article in the article itself. 

Referring to Einstein, Gates and Jefferson, he asks:

"Were any of these people autistic? There are some people who insist that the answer is yes or at the very least they had autistic traits. In addition to giving parents hope for their child's future, it could be used to make an autistic person feel better about himself Of course there is the flip-side that it could induce anger and bitterness to the autist who considers himself far less successful than many neurotypicals. I fall into this last category, therefore, I feel that it is of utmost importance that these diagnoses be dissected. I have attempted to do so in this essay." (Emphasis mine.)

Meanwhile, I fear that like his compatriots in the "undiagnosing" camp, Mr. Mitchell has failed to see a much broader and more important point:

The value in assessing whether these famous thinkers were on the spectrum has more to do with the survival of the species and the health of society than concocting some "feel good" story for kids and parents.

Here's my point.

Why Properly Valuing Neurological Differences Can Help Humankind

If society at large understands that these great heroes may have been on the spectrum - and likely were - then it will understand the danger in writing off autistics as mere freaks, or burdens on society.

In avoiding that danger, it could indeed foster more "crazy" ideas that provide quantum leaps forward in human understanding and development...

Crazy ideas like: 

- There is no fixed position in the universe, and that all motion is relative... 

- Gravity and calculus (okay, I'll give you calculus - that has always been a crazy idea to me)... 

- And computers that can be used in the home, by anybody who can understand simple icons...

The value of accepting neurological differences can be seen in places like Silicon Valley, where it is theorized that many aspies and high functioning autistics (diagnosed or not) have been meeting and having kids... kids on the spectrum.  (For a detailed look at this phenomenon, go here for the Wired Magazine article - one of the best I've seen on the spectrum's effects on society in general.)

It just so happens that Silicon Valley is considered the most innovative (and one of the richest) places on the planet earth.

So...

Having an open discussion about Einstein and company being on the spectrum isn't an exercise in vanity.  

An Open Discussion about Values

It's an attempt to talk about values - and the fact that society would make an enormous mistake by misunderstanding how valuable spectrum thinkers can be.

Such awareness could lead to greater acceptance, which could lead to more funding to understand autism (and treat its negative aspects).  

It could lead to better treatment and therapies.  

And lastly, it could indeed provide some encouragement to autistics that they needn't feel valueless in our society.

And would that be a bad thing?  

Is that really something we need to be careful NOT to do, to encourage autistic families and suggest that they may have an important role to play in the development of humankind?

Right... Let's make sure little Johnny doesn't get TOO excited and think that he might actually be of some value to society one day!

What a depressing way to think about this subject.

I'm not suggesting we encourage every autistic to "be the next Einstein" (although I wouldn't discourage that), implying that Einstein was in some way typical of autistics.  

That would be irresponsible.  It would be akin to a black inner city mom telling her son the only way to have value would be to become the next Barack Obama.

That would be moronic, and mean.

However, it would make sense for that mother to point to Obama as a role model - as someone who proves that being black doesn't mean you have to "accept" any predetermined ceiling for achievement... 

The idea is to aim high, to uncap the kid's sense of psychological potential - not to steer him down a primrose path and set impossible goals.  This is "open" thinking.  You're just trying to remove any possible psychological barriers - not prop the person up and fill them with bilious dreams that will never come true.

I'll get into some of Mitchell's wrongheaded assertions in a later post.

But for now, just consider me in the camp that finds value in discussing the obvious autistic traits of people such as Einstein, Jefferson and Gates.

Indeed, it's time to just look at the facts.  

And that's what I'll try to present.