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Something that a lot of people forget is that the pondering of those highly-respected thinkers was due, in large parts, to them hailing from influential and ric

Something that a lot of people forget is that the pondering of those highly-respected thinkers was due, in large parts, to them hailing from influential and rich families. Russell? British aristocracy. Von Neumann? Heir to an Hungarian and newly titled magnate. Wittgenstein? Wealthiest family in Austro-Hungaria. De Broglie? French aristocracy. They, of course, were insanely smart, but putting that intelligence to such a wonderful use was enabled by their background. This is a sad state of affairs for researchers today because, by default of having the pre-existing money to explore, they must become subservient to it: grants and fundings.

hyperpallium2 4y ago
private tutors are probably the key: https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom%27s_2_sigma_problem https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom%27s_2_sigma_problem
- AstralStorm 4y ago
  In case of such research prodigies, it is a risky thesis. More important were the interaction factors. That said, almost all of them come from families that did not have to struggle to put food on the table or quickly eacaped this environment with external funding. Let finding is that you need "free" time to actually do science.
kqr 4y ago
This is basically the difference between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie: one needs to work for someone (even if only for its customers, as a business owner) to survive, and the other can do whatever they want while living off of previously accumulated capital. Not having to worry about how to get bread on the table opens up the door for all sorts of interesting creative labour!
thrown_22 4y ago
Einstein? Clock-makers son. Newton? Grew up with a reverend as a step father. Kelvin? Son of a teacher. Faraday? Son of a blacksmith. Plank? University professors. Our obsession with credentials is preventing more people from being scientists today than the classism of the 19th century did.

hyperpallium2 4y ago

private tutors are probably the key: https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom%27s_2_sigma_problem https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom%27s_2_sigma_problem

AstralStorm 4y ago
In case of such research prodigies, it is a risky thesis. More important were the interaction factors. That said, almost all of them come from families that did not have to struggle to put food on the table or quickly eacaped this environment with external funding. Let finding is that you need "free" time to actually do science.

kqr 4y ago

This is basically the difference between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie: one needs to work for someone (even if only for its customers, as a business owner) to survive, and the other can do whatever they want while living off of previously accumulated capital. Not having to worry about how to get bread on the table opens up the door for all sorts of interesting creative labour!

thrown_22 4y ago

Einstein? Clock-makers son. Newton? Grew up with a reverend as a step father. Kelvin? Son of a teacher. Faraday? Son of a blacksmith. Plank? University professors. Our obsession with credentials is preventing more people from being scientists today than the classism of the 19th century did.