Dangerous Knowledge

I like to read books. Adrian will listen to books on CD, and watch documentaries, but won't read actual books. He says that after staring at a computer screen all day long, it hurts his eyes to stare at a book. That makes sense. At least, it would make sense with listening to books on CD - but watching movies/documentaries doesn't seem too easy on the eyes. Hmm. Still, I wanted to find a way to share some things I'd read with him (specifically, Gödel's ideas), and came across a Google Video made by the BBC called Dangerous Knowledge.

Watching this vid, I was reminded of a few things. At one point, WWI is mentioned as sort of going along with the intellectual spirit of the times (zeitgeist?), which was basically alot of conflict that didn't resolve anything. Anyway, I've been slowly making my way through Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in Our Times by Dr. Carroll Quigley. I'm just getting through WWI now, and I can't think of a more perfect way to describe it than that "alot of conflict that didn't really resolve anything."

The other thing that reminded me of something was that the reason this is "Dangerous" Knowledge is because all the scientists/mathematicians featured  went crazy and died from causes related to their craziness. A long time ago, I think before we were even married, I had said something about how it could be cool to be a genius. Adrian countered, saying that most geniuses go crazy or something, and he didn't have any interest in being a genius because of that. I said that, since their ideas were so great, maybe it was worth it, maybe going crazy isn't really all that bad. At least you wouldn't be boring. Adrian probably just found that idea cute, laughed, and kissed me. Which is fine by me. There are many worse ways that one could respond. Generally speaking, he's the practical one and I'm the dreamer (Well, not in the Bohemian way, maybe more in an autistic way -see below- though, somewhere on my mom's side we are supposed to have a relative from Bohemia...). Opposites attract for a reason.

But, really, it's not the first time I've thought about the idea that "going crazy" is a small price to pay for being a genius. Like, autistic savants seem really cool. If I were to have some kind of mental disorder, I think autism might be what I come the closest too. They like order and familiarity. They are very habit bound, and the slightest change can really upset them. They aren't particularly social, and sometimes have trouble even recognizing faces. Now, I'm not actually autistic, and I'm certainly no savant. But I couldn't help wondering (I think the book Positive Addiction started me thinking like this) if it would be possible to become autistic, or become a savant, just by imitating their habits. I remember reading Tesla's autobiography; I can't help but think that he was probably mildly autistic, and maybe even had some savant capabilities. Anyway, he seemd to think that his abilities could be taught.

Oh, and I've just been thinking that this (sacrificing sanity for genius) is another interpretation for one of my favorite quotes from The Horse and His Boy "Please, you are so beautiful. You may eat me if you like. I'd rather be eaten by you than fed by anyone else."

Anyway, onto Dangerous Knowledge: