Revenge of the Nerds-autism,the next stage in evolution?

[Swede]

Historically, autism and Asperger's have always been with us. It's only now that we've got fancy names to describe them.

While never officially diagnosed as having autism, a number of historical figures are highly suspected of having it. Newton, Nietzsche, Einstein, Turing and Wittgenstein are seminal thinkers who all exhibited autistic-like traits. In the arts, Jane Austen, Beethoven, Mozart and van Gogh also likely had autism. And today, prominent figures such as Bob Dylan, Woody Allen, Keanu Reeves, Al Gore and, of course, the poster-boy for high-functioning autistics, Bill Gates, are all suspected of having autism.


http://archives.betterhumans.com/Columns/Column/tabid/79/Column/261/Default.aspx

[ananda]

1. Oh please, give me a break!

Being an introverted, deep thinking writer
or person of talent is TOTALLY NORMAL.

Read your Jung!

I'm starting to hate the pseudo-labels of
the mental health industry and that horrible
DSM.

Sue

[Warpy]

7. They might have a case for Mozart and Asperger's

but that's about it.

Just what we need, the 75% of the population that is extroverted trying to medicalize the 25% of us who are introverts.

[whistle]

2. That sounds a lot like horse shit

[Orrex]

4. I'd like to K/R your reply

Horse shit, indeed.

[DS1]

3. It's the trendy thing to have aspie kids now, it seems

one of my bosses is always going on out his kids. They're perfectly normal, but this is the new 'special'

[Orrex]

5. Here's a rule of thumb

You can dismiss the entirety of any argument that, in describing a deceased historical figure, includes some variation on the phrase "likely had autism."

Ditto any argument that presumes to issue a Frist-like diagnosis for some iconic and quirky contemporary figure.


I call bullshit. And horse shit. And several other kinds of shit.

[Tumbulu]

6. Well I found the article interesting

thanks for posting it.

[mzteris]

8. i don't know why

everyone is saying bs about this.

It's probably entirely true.

Autism - and Aspergers are VERY REAL CONDITIONS. And if you do have any experience at all with a (range of) A/A types - then you would KNOW that yeah, all of those guys probably had one or the other.

The thing that scares me is if we "medicate" or eradicate these conditions. They seem to be the driving creative forces and great minds of the human race.

[Orrex]

9. You're mischaracterizing our objections

Having just re-read the thread, I can find no post claiming that either condition is a fiction. Instead, skeptics are quite reasonably taking issue with the post mortem diagnosis of (coincidentally enough!) monumental figures from history in order to assign these conditions to them for some reason.

These are spectrum phenomena only recently understood at all, and it's hard enough to diagnose someone who's sitting in the chair opposite, let alone someone who's been dead in a box in Vienna for 2+ centuries.

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING positive is gained through the propaganda technique of Fristian retrodiagnosis.

And as absurd as that practice is, it's even more offensive IMO to presume to diagnose living people without their consent or participation. If they have revealed their conditions on their own, then that's another matter (people such as Dan Aykroyd, for example). But to declare someone an "aspie" just because some of that person's behaviors seem to match the nebulous diagnostic criteria?

Sorry, but that's just bullshit.

And this part:

They seem to be the driving creative forces and great minds of the human race.

is simply nonsensical. Since there is no good evidence that these "great minds of the human race" actually had the conditions that you ascribe to them, then it is the height of folly to lionize them as you propose.

However, I share your view that we shouldn't medicate people with Autism or Asperger's unless doing so will prevent them from harming themselves or others, or unless their quality of life will be so greatly improved that they themselves (or someone legally empowered to consent on their behalf) agree to the treatment.

[Indenturedebtor]

10. Interesting read

But given the fact that most Autistic people and folks with Aspergers need extensive care to function, I don't know that this could be viewed as a positive adaptation.

Certainly every variety of humanity should be cherished, and where ever possible every person should have the opportunity to flourish and to contribute to society in their own individual way.

Further - I like many of the other posters in this thread don't take well to the posthumous diagnoses of these figures. Futhermore I don't agree with blurring the lines of diagnoses to say that introversion and obsessive tendencies = mild autism, any more than paranoia = schizophrenia.

I also take issue with the assumption that intelligence is linked with poor physical coordination and bad fashion sense, somewhat lacking social skills, etc. As a matter of fact many studies have pointed to a strong correlation between high IQ and strong social skills and good looks, healthier immune systems, etc. Generally speaking High IQ = Good Genes and upbringing.

It has always seemed to me that many times academic and then professional success are often more vigorously pursued by those with poor social and physical skills as a pathway to success. Another way of saying that just because you learn a lot about a couple of subjects - say Nuclear Physics or Baseball doesn't make you a genius. Any more than knowing alot about a particular subject makes you socially inept or unattractive.

Another thing that bothered me about this article is that it didn't spend even one sentence on the concept of neuroplasticity. In short - if you lose your left arm - the portion of your motor cortex that was formerly devoted to controlling your left arm will likely be taken over by your right arm. The same rules can apply to other brain functions. Being developmentally impaired in one area of cognitive function can give you enhanced function in another area.

This does not however necessarily equal "evolution" though with enough selective pressure "evolution" could lead to a higher incidence of such traits.