Summary:
Early this morning, Stephen Hawking’s family released a statement confirming the great scientist’s death. Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 1963 when he was 21. He was given two years to live, but as we know live over fifty more years. He claimed that an eminent threat of death actually inspired him, and “although there was a cloud hanging over my future, I found, to my surprise, that I was enjoying life in the present more than before.” Hawking went on to make numerous breakthroughs in the field of physics and was decorated with many awards to signify the progress he made for humanity. However, Hawking was by no means a perfect man. Many of his claims were quite controversial: he starkly refuted religion as simply a comfort for those who need it, and he stood by many of his claims long after most physicists disregarded them. He was also regarded as sexist and misogynistic by some, including his first wife, who felt she became a slave as his health conditions worsened. The article details some of his discoveries, but I feel the specifics would not add much substance to our discussions.
Analysis:
Hawking’s achievements truly evolved the world of physics. Much of his discoveries may have stemmed from his illness, a concept I find intriguing. He has a checkered past, but I feel that many still see him as a great figure in physics and his personality has little weight for those who regard him as such a hero. However, with the growth of many progressive movements, there seems be decreasing tolerance for the private misdemeanor of public figures.
Questions:
- Does a threat of death in the near future serve as a motivator, or does it seem more as a cause of surrendering and accepting death? Would Hawking make the same discoveries if he were perfectly healthy?
- Does Hawking’s misogyny detract from his discoveries, or should his professional life stand isolated from his private life? Should this shadow last in his legacy for generations to come?
- What are your general feelings about Hawking as a scientist and the position he held in the academic world?
4 comments:
I think that the threat of death in the near future does serve as a motivator because if someone believes they may die tomorrow, today they will try their best to do something great. I know some people believe that you should also do your best everyday since you could die tomorrow, however, if you know you are more likely to die (due to a condition), you will ultimately try harder. So, I do not believe that Hawking would have made the same discoveries if he were perfectly healthy. Personally, I do not really understand exactly what Hawking did further than black holes and radiation. So, my general feelings about him were just based off other people’s notions that he was doing great work and made great discoveries despite his condition.
Stephen Hawking was a brilliant scientist who contributed many theories that helped further the science of space and other matters. Hawking is the epitome of success and never giving up, so he serves as one of the best examples to many people who believe that they will die soon. Even though Hawking, like every other human being, was not perfect. Even if he is extraordinarily smart, he is still human and is therefore prone to believe certain things or make certain mistakes. Hawking did not do anything that warranted any huge backlash or consequence, and almost his whole body was completely useless. This means he had to rely on others every day, so people close to him knew everything about Hawking, even his bad side. So, to me, Hawking's misogyny should not detract from his findings as he is a special exception compared to normal people.
Impending death can give different results to different people. Some people may surrender and accept their fate, and others may try to make the most of it, as Hawking did. He lived the most fulfilling life he could given his circumstances.
His private life should be separated from his professional life. Him being accused of misogyny does not make him any worse of a scientist. He accomplished many things that none other could even think of, and his personal life should not detract from those accomplishments. Hawking was an absolutely phenomenal mind, and it is still amazing that he was able to make these achievements despite his physical condition.
The reaction towards being told that one’s death is eminent can differ from person to person -- in Hawking’s case, it was clearly a motivating factor, though it may not be for others. Nevertheless, I don’t believe that Hawking’s discoveries can or should be attributed to his debilitating illness, but rather to his brilliance. Additionally, I think there’s a difference between admiring a public figure’s accomplishments and elevating a public figure to the point of erasing or diminishing their shortcomings. While Hawking’s apparent misogyny shouldn’t be ignored, it’s undeniable that Hawking is a highly accomplished physicist who contributed greatly to the world of science.
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