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Your examples hardly show that Gauss was mean. He disagreed with his children about the path they should take in life. Most parents do. Gauss probably had a rea
by mafribe 12y ago
Your examples hardly show that Gauss was mean. He disagreed with his children about the path they should take in life. Most parents do. Gauss probably had a realistic appreciation of his sons' abilities. And why should parents be expected unconditionally to pay for their childrens' extravagances. Maybe the money was needed for something more important?
- sillysaurus3 12y agoSpecifically the last sentence: It took many years for Eugene's success to counteract his reputation among Gauss's friends and colleagues. As a parent, you just don't do that to your children. Apparently Gauss badmouthed him regularly, to the point where he acquired a reputation outside of the family. I think part of the general confusion is that "mean" and "fail" are both hard to define.
- mafribe 12y agoMaybe CF Gauss had a realistic appreciation of his son's personality. I don't know. Why should parents lie about their children? You are projecting contemporary parental attitudes where little darling cannot possibly do / be wrong on somebody who lived more than 2 centuries earlier, and had six children.