Letters to the Editor
|
This page is available for readers to throw brickbats or bouquets, to sound off on any subject that has provoked their ire or promoted their admiration, and generally to share with the rest of us. There is no shortage of space! |
From: Kevin Phillips
To: Joe Sinclair
Subject: Re: Autism, etc.
Date: 12 February 2004 11:38
Dear
Joe
Thanks for the email and the attachment. I read it with interest. I would agree
with Fitzgerald in that Wittgenstein may have had
Asperger's Syndrome. I have read about
him.
Other candidates include Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Andy Warhol and Glenn Gould. In Gould's case I would say he almost certainly had it. I wouldn't have thought that either the 'mad monk' Sir Keith Joseph, the Irish revolutionary (destined to become the Free State's first Prime Minister and subsequently President) Eamon de Valera had AS. They had to deal with crowds, people in their work environments, interruptions, disruptions, and didn't have routines and obsessions as far as what is known, but we can't test either of them as they are now dead! Ramanujan may have been a case. Yeats and Carroll are two other people I don't know enough about. Perhaps they may have had traits but not enough to be fully diagnosed, although they are both dead too!
As for Hitler, I know he had Parkinson's disease in the last year's of his life. Hitler was manipulative and able to con people, something that people with AS usually aren't very good at. I would believe he was either a sociopath, who was good at doing that, or had narcissitic personality disorder. What's your view on this?
As for nurturing my own potential well I don't believe I am doing as well as I could but have carved out a niche in my own area. My website has been designed to help other people who have read about my experiences and history. They may say to themselves 'Oh I recognise myself there' or will write to me for advice.
Kevin
[Kevin
Phillips's article on Asperger's Syndrome will be found in the Main Theme
section of this issue. An extract from his website will also be found in
that section - in the Leading Article: Learning Difficulties. His website
may be found at http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/aut/links.html