http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43396008
Quite simply, one of a kind, a genius in every sense of the word who overcame unbelievable adversary to be the best at what he did. A massive loss.
Printable View
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43396008
Quite simply, one of a kind, a genius in every sense of the word who overcame unbelievable adversary to be the best at what he did. A massive loss.
Rest In Peace. ��
Since I am an asshole, how much of him being given credit and a platform for his views was due to his condition? Later in his life, a lot of his theories were viewed very critically by the scientific community. Plus, the guy was a massive misogynist and an absolute tool to his wife.
A loss is a loss and the odds he overcame to continue to contribute to the scientific community are impressive though.
I'm not going to act like Hawking was a saint, but his work in his prime was phenomenal, and even right before he actually died, people took what he had to say seriously on all kinds of subject matters. It's not just "Oh, Richard Dawkins is raving about Brexit again" or something like that, people stopped and listened to his perspective on all manners of things. That takes a very special mind to accomplish.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yaz
Plus, when he was diagnosed with his condition in university, he was initially given 2 years to live. He lasted those 2, plus an extra 50 on top. Even if the man was just another random citizen of the world, that would still be unbelievably impressive in its own right.
Oh no doubt. Human spirit is a powerful force, and Hawking was full of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fallout
I had an astronomy class in high school and that was when I started to learn about how Hawking wasn't this all knowing guy, then I took a college class and learned a lot about him. A great mind no doubt, but I do think that asking how much his condition played into his fame is a fair question to ask.
Not saying that this is any sort of excuse or anything, it's simply that it seems to be a common occurrence among the genuine intellectual elite that they're just not able to comprehend certain social norms or types of acceptable behavior. Even though the Big Bang Theory is a TV show, Sheldon Cooper is a good example of that, it's just not remotely as funny in real life when someone of genius level intelligence dismisses the thoughts, feelings and beliefs of other people they deem inferior. People who're pure intellectuals, people who basically only live inside their own heads, which was really pretty accurate in Hawking's case given his condition, often view conformity to social norms a waste of their time. I'm sure Hawking had a massive ego, which is probably made all the more frustrating in the eyes of some people because he's one of the genuine few who was justified for it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yaz
The fact that Hawking lived so long with ALS is basically a freak of nature and when you consider all he accomplished and contributed to science in spite of his illness, it's one of those rare instances where it makes you wonder if there might even remotely be such a thing as destiny. At the same time, I have little doubt that his condition had some impact on his celebrity status. I mean...I really don't see how he couldn't. Most people who have ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, die within a year or so of their diagnosis, two at the very most. ALS is rare in the first place, but Hawking's case was even more so as it was very slowly progressing. The fact that he was so brilliant, coupled with the fact that he had such a devastating illness that basically left him incapable of physical communication or interaction, made him something of a novelty.
He died on the same day that both Stephen Curry and Albert Einstein were born. RIP.
"Life would be tragic if it weren't so funny."
On "Pi Day", no less.Quote:
Originally Posted by #MrScissorsKick
I remember when he beat Data and Albert Einstein in a game of poker on an episode of Star Trek. Bad ass.
Guy beat the lifespan on his disease by four decades. Incredible.
Better luck next time stevie!
A sad day for science, astronomy and humanity.