Is Hawking really right up there with Newton and Einstein?

[sandorski]

Yeah, really. A disease is 'supposed to be' a handicap he/others overcome, not something that could contribute to their success.

But from what I've read, he wasn't the most focused guy around and that changed when he started losing motor function.

One of his grad student/assistants mentioned something that struck me - they were reading a paper, and the student had finished the current page and was ready to turn it, but Hawking was still studying it. He knew he had already read it. But he realized Hawking had to get it and remember right then, since he didn't really have the option of pulling it off the shelf an hour or a week later.

"Overcoming"(snicker snicker) Disability/Handicapability(or whatever one wants to call it ) is over rated. Adapting is where it's at. He, I'm guessing, Adapted to his Reality and made the best of it.

 

[yhelothar]

Yeah, really. A disease is 'supposed to be' a handicap he/others overcome, not something that could contribute to their success.

But from what I've read, he wasn't the most focused guy around and that changed when he started losing motor function.

One of his grad student/assistants mentioned something that struck me - they were reading a paper, and the student had finished the current page and was ready to turn it, but Hawking was still studying it. He knew he had already read it. But he realized Hawking had to get it and remember right then, since he didn't really have the option of pulling it off the shelf an hour or a week later.

Isn't all that stuff digital now?
How long ago did the grad student mention it?

 

[IAteYourMother]

I don't even think Einstein belongs in the same tier as Newton.

 

[Gibsons]

Isn't all that stuff digital now?
How long ago did the grad student mention it?

Couldn't tell you for sure, just a doc I saw... 3-4? years ago. I think at this point even moving through web pages/PDFs is rather difficult for him.

 

[Gibsons]

"Overcoming"(snicker snicker) Disability/Handicapability(or whatever one wants to call it ) is over rated. Adapting is where it's at. He, I'm guessing, Adapted to his Reality and made the best of it.

I agree.

 

[Patranus]

Steve Jobs has done more for this world than Hawking.
Just saying.....

 

[Fritzo]

Steve Jobs has done more for this world than Hawking.
Just saying.....

God I hope you're kidding.

 

[SunSamurai]

i don't even think.

qft

 

[SunSamurai]

Steve Jobs has done more for this world than Hawking.
Just saying.....

I enjoy my iPhone greatly and am I near rabid fan of Apple and its history, but you Sir, are an idiot.

 

[Patranus]

I enjoy my iPhone greatly and am I near rabid fan of Apple and its history, but you Sir, are an idiot.

Really?
Steve Jobs has done more to change the face of society than anything Hawking has done or will do in his lifetime.

 

[SunSamurai]

Really?
Steve Jobs has done more to change the face of society than anything Hawking has done or will do in his lifetime.

Theres more to society than cellphones and music players, kid.

 

[murphy55d]

Really?
Steve Jobs has done more to change the face of society than anything Hawking has done or will do in his lifetime.

So the iPod is a bigger deal than all his research? seriously?

 

[Fritzo]

Really?
Steve Jobs has done more to change the face of society than anything Hawking has done or will do in his lifetime.

OK, you do understand the difference between changing society and advancing scientific knowledge, right?

I don't think Steve Jobs is going to be able to answer "Why are we here?" anytime soon. This is the ultimate goal of cosmology. If you don't believe me, I'm sure there's an app for that.