The Boston Globe runs a long article by Drake Bennett on sociobiologist Robert Trivers, who was one of the world's most brilliant thinkers from 1970-1975, but has been mostly AWOL for the last 30 years. Now, he's feeling smart again and promises lots of hot new ideas.
What the article fails to mention is why Trivers' career has been so erratic: manic-depression. Edward O. Wilson wrote in his fine autobiography Naturalist:
Trivers both benefited and suffered from a case of manic-depressive syndrome (now cured). When he was up he was dazzling, when he was down he was terrifying.
My published articles are archived at iSteve.com -- Steve Sailer
I think the man is off his meds. He wrote this today in the Wall St Journal and threatened Dershowitz here at Harvard:
ReplyDeleteWall Street Journal
Letters to the Editor
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
In regard to Alan Dershowitz’s commentary “Finkelstein’s Bigotry” (editorial page, May 4): In it he asserts that “He [Norman Finkelstein] has encouraged radical goons to email threatening messages; ‘Look forward to a visit from me,’ reads one. “Nazis like [you] need to be confronted directly.”
But all of this is untrue. I wrote the letter in question (April 15, 2007), but without Prof. Finkelstein’s knowledge, interest or approval. The key sentences had nothing to do with Prof. Finkelstein: ‘Regarding your rationalization of Israeli attacks on Lebanese civilians, let me just say that if there is a repeat of Israeli butchery toward Lebanon and if you decide once again to rationalize it publicly, look forward to a visit from me. Nazis – and Nazi-like apologists such as yourself – need to be confronted directly.
As for being an academic goon: I am late responding because I was in Europe lecturing after receiving the Crafoord Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Robert Trivers
Professor of Anthropology and Biological Sciences
Rutgers University
Somerset, NJ
Considering Trivers was an associate of the Black Panthers (see wikipedia), I think the guy is really nuts.