Are there philosophers who are autistic?

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ProvokesThinking
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14 Feb 2013, 4:02 pm

I have had suspicions of some philosophers to be. I opened a thread about this in another forum but I didn't receive serious reactions, I hope to get some here.

I think that Wittgenstein possibly was autistic.



TornadoEvil
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14 Feb 2013, 4:16 pm

Personally, I am pretty good at understanding and writing philosophy. Not that acing an intro class counts for much. I do not know of any philosopher who could be really defined as autistic.

I found my inability to connect with other people led me to contemplate the solidarity of my existence and my loneliness. Pretty much existential. Made me turn towards faith when I was younger.



charlottez
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14 Feb 2013, 4:57 pm

From what I've read about Wittgenstein, I'd say he was an Aspie.



Zodai
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14 Feb 2013, 5:00 pm

There's probably a few in the PPR forum, although maybe not very well known ;D


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JonAZ
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14 Feb 2013, 7:36 pm

charlottez wrote:
From what I've read about Wittgenstein, I'd say he was an Aspie.


A philosopher is far more likely to demonstrate strong autistic perception that the general population. Wittgenstein seems like a classic Aspie. I understand that he got into hand flapping in public.


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Moriel
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14 Feb 2013, 9:39 pm

Ayn Rand was probably an Aspie too. Brilliant but didn't understand the concept of altruism, and please, notice that I'm not suggesting that AS are a bunch of self absorbed egoistic people, just that empathy is hard to understand for many (although not for all) in the spectrum.


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GGPViper
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15 Feb 2013, 5:42 am

Apparently, this conversation (as reported by Princeton philosopher Harry G. Frankfurt in On BS) once took place between Wittgenstein and Fania Pascal, a colleague at Cambridge:

Pascal: I had my tonsils out and was in the Evelyn Nursing Home feeling sorry for myself.

Wittgenstein called. I croaked "I feel just like a dog that has been run over".

He was disgusted. "You don't know what a dog that has been run over ever feels like".



Logicalmom
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15 Feb 2013, 6:32 pm

Quine - philosopher of language - is on the "likely" list. I will tell you, after recently wading through one of his deeply detailed essays, I did a search because as I was reading I thought: "this man is one of my people." :D

Re: Wittgenstein - yes, there is debate - how can there not be? I have a book from the uni library on As and creativity in men - a large chunk is devoted to Wittgenstein.

When I one day get my doctorate: me. :D How is that for optimism ?!

Stereotypically, AS girls are called "little philosophers" - I am a big-little philosopher.

Phil of Language, Logic, and Phil of Science and Math are likely the most fun places for someone with AS to play - in my opinion and experience :D

There is a lady philosopher with AS currently practicing - one of my profs gave me her name but I will have to look it up when I get home.

I would venture that one I know personally "just has to be."


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