In an article entitled, “Geniuses and Prodigies,” by Stanislas Dehaene, he explains different so-called geniuses. All of the men mentioned are apt at mathematics. These men are Srinavasa Ramanujan, G. H. Hardy, and a man named Michael. As the piece continues, it talks about the mechanics of the brain and issues that can lead to one man’s diagnosis of autism, while another man’s struggle was poverty and a lack of opportunity. Eventually, all three men’s lives are described as all are geniuses in mathematics.
As his professional life is explained, his brilliant skill in mathematics is revealed. This man, Mr. G. H. Hardy, was a part of the Royal Society, he conversed with many intelligent minds, like, “Whitehead and Russell,” (Dehaene, 18). In January of 1913, G. H. Hardy found an obscure letter in the post, from India. At one point he looks at a letter from a young man in India, finding scrolled on the paper many theorems he knows are already proven through his work, along with others that have yet to be found. Though he detests amateurs, he chose to read on, discovering in the letter countless professional terms and a request by the boy that he tells him his opinion on countless theorems.
He finds that the young man is Srinavasa Ramanujan. Born in India, the boy came from a poor family. He discovers that many of the mathematical formulas used by this young man are not otherwise well-known, he also notes the boy’s attention to detail. He finds that the young man used a mixture of both well-established theories, while others are recently discovered and used in roundabout ways, and other formulas that seem to be a creation all his own, where the origin of such theories remain baffling. He, G. H. Hardy became rather intrigued began to work through the figures. Though he was uncertain about it, Hardy knew that they boy was a genius. He once dictated, “the formulas had to be true because, if they were not, no one would have the imagination to invent them,” (Dehaene, 18). This association soon became a wonderful relationship, leading to many discoveries. He decided immediately to bring Ramanujan to Cambridge, where he was later joined by the Royal Society.
As for Ramanujan himself, he could almost be viewed as higher than Isaac Newton, because he did not begin with a high standing, or others to lean on. He was born to a poor family and only received nine years of schooling and no university education and, at an early age, his genius was discovered. He discovered various theories that he had no knowledge of himself but found. He also mastered basic trigonometry by age twelve. He based his study on two books, but that was only the beginning as he expanded his knowledge and further discovered mathematics. As described in the article, he had an uncanny sense for creating the correct formulas. He also was quite good at envisioning, “arithmetical sequences,” (Dehaene, 19). Because of these great skills that he possessed his findings are just now being proven, his notebook was filled with mathematical material.
Ramanujan also described that he was visited by an Indian goddess named Namagiri. He says that he would often wake up in the night and quickly jot down ideas and formulas he had learned. The author does, however, refute this claim by saying that he does not fully agree with Indian religious figures being at the forefront of academic discovery. And, though he does not fully disagree, he explains that there could be a connection with neuropsychology. He mentions how psychology and neurology could be at the forefront of discovery in that field, hopefully explaining why Ramanujan had such a genius mind.
About fifty years after Ramanujan’s death, a boy was born by the name of Michael. Though similar to Ramanujan in the genius aspect of things, he was also different in a myriad of ways as he was both autistic and retarded. He was studied by two psychologists from England. He suffered from macrocephaly, where a child’s head is enlarged. It can sometimes be harmless if there is only a small amount of fluid present, but large amounts of fluid can be a hint at possible brain tumors, along with other issues. As a child, he was rather misbehaved and did not understand the concept of danger. He lived in his own detached world. He also never waved good-bye or pointed at objects, things children often pick up from observation and do.
He never has learned how to use words and is not even testable on a regular scale telling fluency in the language. He was nonverbal throughout his childhood. Even two decades later, he will not speak. He in fact never learned sign language and is what would be described as an idiot savant. Though insanely intelligent in mathematics, he never matured in certain ways. He is both autistic and retarded.f However, since age six he has loved basic mathematical functions such as multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction, and since then they have become his favorite hobbies. He also loves calendars, clocks, money and maps.
Though the comparison of two vastly different, but similar men is somewhat absurd, it outlines an important point. Both are skilled at mathematics. The point seems to be that, though Michael cannot name a rabbit from a car, he is clearly gifted. He would be described, as previously mentioned, an idiot savant. There are scores of people like him, though devoid of basic social understanding or language, they are insanely fast human calculators, some able to tell the day of the week for any past day. How can a poor boy from India be so skilled? How can a mentally retarded man be so apt at mathematics? The only question should be, why not?
http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.uvu.edu/stable/25678251?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
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