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>convicted of engaging in homosexual acts and sentenced to chemical castration. Amid that personal drama, he still found the time to publish a visionary paper

>convicted of engaging in homosexual acts and sentenced to chemical castration. Amid that personal drama, he still found the time to publish a visionary paper Even in the face of his entire society condemning him to a crippled existence, it's a testament to his fortitude that he continued producing brilliant works, unfettered. We're left to wonder what other insights Turing might have contributed to human progress had he not been stifled and squandered by the people in power in his day. History is filled with examples of intellect being trampled on by the establishment: Galileo, Socrates, and even now Aaron Swartz. We still haven't grown out of it. We still need to fight it.

rayiner 14y ago
Your comparisons don't even make sense. Turing wasn't "trampled on by the establishment." He was part of the establishment. He spent most of his career working for the government, first in the war effort then later in a national research lab. He was the victim of backwards social policy, not someone who was attacked by the establishment because his intellect was a threat.
duaneb 14y ago
I enjoy Turing's contributions as much as the next man, but this really isn't an apt comparison. Socrates talked his way into his own grave when he could have easily gotten out of it. Galileo is probably closer, but the church beefed with his work, not the man per se. Meanwhile, Turing worked for the establishment directly and was very definitely embraced as a researcher. His persecution is completely unrelated to his genius; he seems to serve more as a figurehead for examples of homophobic bigotry because of his success and successive fame and recognition, not because his case was unusual. That said, I'm happy with the situation; I don't see anything wrong with using him for that purpose. I just don't see much of a parallel because his anti-establishment status wasn't tied to his genius, and is in fact completely separate.
Guthur 14y ago
Wiki has a slightly different account of the conviction. He was not sentenced to chemical castration, though that was the result, the treatment was to reduce the libido. Interestingly Arnold Murray was released on probation. Source is wiki of course so possibilities of inaccuracies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing#Conviction_for_indecency http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing#Conviction_for_inde... Also apparently jail sentences for 'gross indecency' were rarer at the time, "(only 174 of the 746 men convicted of 'gross indecency' in 1951 received prison sentences-typically less than six months)" According to this: http://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/2011/04/the-turing-problem.html http://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/2011/04/the-turing-...
- spot 14y ago
  what source has no possibility of inaccuracy?
lifeisstillgood 14y ago
I feel I have to defend your comment here, as t The conviction for gross indeceny was socially backwards, yes, but the establishment (which Turing was not a part of ) Completely fumbled his genius - just look at the treatment von Braun and others got because their rocketry work was valuable. Had the establishment recognised the value of Turing I am quite sure records could have easily been expunged. But they did not aNd there is no reliable indicator we have learnt our lessons
acheron 14y ago
Turing, Galileo, Socrates, Aaron Swartz. Talk about "one of these things doesn't belong".

rayiner 14y ago

Your comparisons don't even make sense. Turing wasn't "trampled on by the establishment." He was part of the establishment. He spent most of his career working for the government, first in the war effort then later in a national research lab. He was the victim of backwards social policy, not someone who was attacked by the establishment because his intellect was a threat.

duaneb 14y ago

I enjoy Turing's contributions as much as the next man, but this really isn't an apt comparison. Socrates talked his way into his own grave when he could have easily gotten out of it. Galileo is probably closer, but the church beefed with his work, not the man per se. Meanwhile, Turing worked for the establishment directly and was very definitely embraced as a researcher. His persecution is completely unrelated to his genius; he seems to serve more as a figurehead for examples of homophobic bigotry because of his success and successive fame and recognition, not because his case was unusual. That said, I'm happy with the situation; I don't see anything wrong with using him for that purpose. I just don't see much of a parallel because his anti-establishment status wasn't tied to his genius, and is in fact completely separate.

Guthur 14y ago

Wiki has a slightly different account of the conviction. He was not sentenced to chemical castration, though that was the result, the treatment was to reduce the libido. Interestingly Arnold Murray was released on probation. Source is wiki of course so possibilities of inaccuracies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing#Conviction_for_indecency http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing#Conviction_for_inde... Also apparently jail sentences for 'gross indecency' were rarer at the time, "(only 174 of the 746 men convicted of 'gross indecency' in 1951 received prison sentences-typically less than six months)" According to this: http://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/2011/04/the-turing-problem.html http://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/2011/04/the-turing-...

spot 14y ago
what source has no possibility of inaccuracy?

lifeisstillgood 14y ago

I feel I have to defend your comment here, as t The conviction for gross indeceny was socially backwards, yes, but the establishment (which Turing was not a part of ) Completely fumbled his genius - just look at the treatment von Braun and others got because their rocketry work was valuable. Had the establishment recognised the value of Turing I am quite sure records could have easily been expunged. But they did not aNd there is no reliable indicator we have learnt our lessons

acheron 14y ago

Turing, Galileo, Socrates, Aaron Swartz. Talk about "one of these things doesn't belong".