[SIGCIS-Members] Debunking the myth of individual genius

[Theodora Dryer]

Thank you, Barbara! I'm looking forward to your work on "Creation Myths"

It's not new, but Leila McNeill's piece is another great short read on this
topic:
https://thebaffler.com/outbursts/surely-youre-a-creep-mr-feynman-mcneill.


On Thu, Oct 22, 2020 at 11:42 AM Barbara B Walker <bbwalker at unr.edu> wrote:

> Hi, everybody,
>
>
>
> Hope everyone is safe and well.
>
>
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> Here is an article on the importance of looking beyond the mythologies and
> cults of genius in the history of science and tech.
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> https://undark.org/2020/10/22/the-fiction-of-individual-genius/
>
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> However, I would argue that in computer history as everywhere else in the
> history of science and tech, debunking is not enough – we must understand
> the reasons, cultures and process of cult-formation and myth-making that
> plays such an influential role in our understanding of the past. That’s
> something I’m exploring in an article on John von Neumann that I recently
> submitted for publication review (“Creation Myths”). Am also looking at the
> formation of political personality cults in a seminar I am teaching this
> semester.
>
>
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> Barbara Walker
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>
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> Barbara Walker
>
> Associate Professor
>
> Department of History/308
>
> University of Nevada, Reno
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> Reno NV 89557
>
>
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-- 
Theodora Dryer, Ph.D.
Lead Research Scholar, Climate + Water
AI Now Institute | New York University
https://www.theodoradryer.com/
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