What if Stephen Hawking never developed ALS?

Elizabeth Wright · Jul 7, 2015

It goes without saying that Hawkin has accomplished many brilliant things and that his scientific acheivements changed the world as we know it, or at least as we perceive it. I can't help but wonder, however, what else he would have achieved so far if he didn't suffer from ALS?

I want to preface that I am in no way speaking ill of his disability and struggle, I am merely postulating how much further his work might be at this stage. Or, on the other hand, how his work may have suffered if his situation had been different.

Thoughts?

Derek Pullem · Jul 7, 2015

Unknowable really.

Although many brilliant physicists do their best work quite young in life.

Another argument might be that his condition has resulted in him being able to devote more time to theorising as that is all he is physically able to do.

Elizabeth Wright · Jul 7, 2015

That's very true. I was considering that, which is why I mentioned that his work may have suffered.

Either way he is incredibly fascinating.

Driftless · Jul 7, 2015

I can't speak to ALS, but I've had other freinds and family suffer through drawn out chronic disease such as various cancers, Mutiple Sclerosis, and others. In every situation I've seen, dealing with the disease is both physically and mentally draining to the utmost, even in earlier stages. The mind and body divert much of its energy to fighting off or coping with the disease.

With Hawking, he (obviously) seems to be able to refine his mental focus than most. Still, I can't help but think the effects of his ALS has not helped at all.

Elizabeth Wright · Jul 7, 2015

I think aside from being draining, like you mentioned, ALS differs from other diseases because it effects the nervous system, but mental capacity remains very functional.

Neverthelss, I think emotional distress and sheer frustration would cause me to be unproductive under the same circumstances. But, I'm obviously not Stephen Hawking.

jahenders · Jul 7, 2015

It could really go either way. He could retain his focus and achieve more without the constraints of ALS. Alternately, being able to live a more physically active life might very well have taken away from his focus, such that he'd be a good, but not a great physicist.

Additionally, even if his accomplishments were similar, I think he'd be somewhat less famous/revered than he is. The fact that he accomplishes so much WITH ALS, in a wheelchair, and with a synthetic voice has certainly added to his fame and his cachet.

Elizabeth Wright said:
It goes without saying that Hawkin has accomplished many brilliant things and that his scientific acheivements changed the world as we know it, or at least as we perceive it. I can't help but wonder, however, what else he would have achieved so far if he didn't suffer from ALS?

I want to preface that I am in no way speaking ill of his disability and struggle, I am merely postulating how much further his work might be at this stage. Or, on the other hand, how his work may have suffered if his situation had been different.

Thoughts?

Ryan · Jul 7, 2015

I believe he's said himself that being able to zone out and think about things has helped his work.

Driftless · Jul 7, 2015

Ryan said:
I believe he's said himself that being able to zone out and think about things has helped his work.

If that's the case, he is all the more extraordinary for his achievements.

cra0422 · Jul 7, 2015

jahenders said:
It could really go either way. He could retain his focus and achieve more without the constraints of ALS. Alternately, being able to live a more physically active life might very well have taken away from his focus, such that he'd be a good, but not a great physicist.

Additionally, even if his accomplishments were similar, I think he'd be somewhat less famous/revered than he is. The fact that he accomplishes so much WITH ALS, in a wheelchair, and with a synthetic voice has certainly added to his fame and his cachet.

I agree. I think that he'd be highly respected in his field, but he wouldn't be as well known. Plus, like Ryan said, it's helped him to focus. I think that people suffering from ALS or some other debilitating disease would have lost a role model, someone who has incurable disease but doesn't let it keep him from accomplishing anything in life

Makemakean · Jul 7, 2015

Oh, he'd be like Roger Penrose, John Archibald Wheeler, Kip Thorne and Fay Dowker. Still as brilliant as before, possible even more brilliant than before. He'd do world-class research, be hired at some prestigious university and everything.

But most people would react to hearing his name with "Stephen who?"

The truth of the matter is that people know who Stephen Hawking is not because of the Hawking-Penrose Theorems, but because of Stephen Hawking is the fellow in the wheelchair who speaks through a computer.

Elizabeth Wright · Jul 7, 2015

jahenders said:
Additionally, even if his accomplishments were similar, I think he'd be somewhat less famous/revered than he is. The fact that he accomplishes so much WITH ALS, in a wheelchair, and with a synthetic voice has certainly added to his fame and his cachet.

You are absolutely correct. Although I think A Brief History of Time would have been an amazing accomplishment for even a well-bodies physicists. But when it comes to the general infatuation with Hawking, it is inseperable from his accomplishments WITH his disease, as you said.

thekingsguard · Jul 8, 2015

Makemakean said:
Oh, he'd be like Roger Penrose, John Archibald Wheeler, Kip Thorne and Fay Dowker. Still as brilliant as before, possible even more brilliant than before. He'd do world-class research, be hired at some prestigious university and everything.

But most people would react to hearing his name with "Stephen who?"

The truth of the matter is that people know who Stephen Hawking is not because of the Hawking-Penrose Theorems, but because of Stephen Hawking is the fellow in the wheelchair who speaks through a computer.

This sadly. He'd likely be doing even more impressive work, but he would have zero awareness among the common man on the street or in pop culture.

GeographyDude · Jul 8, 2015

not always, but often, when someone has an extreme outcome, such as being extremely successful,

any change is likely to lead to regression to the mean, right?

Gudestein · Jul 9, 2015

Stephen Hawking's academic achievements rank very high, and his achievements in communicating highly complicated material is even higher. I do however have a feeling that the focusing aspect of his illness should not be underestimated, and also one might add distractions of a normal physique. Children and such.
A more normal scientific life would probably see him more involved in the everyday trivial work as fund raising and teaching. The way this could enhance his career is if further interaction with students, postdocs, other professors could lead him to gather a group of highly gifted people around him. Think of Niels Bohr in Copenhagen.