I voted for Tesla, but thought why is Ada Byron always gone?
In researching genetic engineering I came across many biographies of French Anderson and he became my idol for awhile ("not for being so intelligent at such a young age -- that was just an accident of birth -- but for conquering his character flaws afterwards," said my essay on him.) Then he was arrested for molestation.
Still human, unfortunately -- and a very ill self-admittedly evil one. Who's that who said "Beethoven was paranoid, Mozart was manic-depressive, and Wagner was a megalomaniac"? I wonder, what are we supposed to do when these ideas of people go horribly realistic? Should we just admire dead geniuses whose history is usually cleaned up (like Oscar Wilde)? Or is there a way to honor their contributions without appearing to condone their evils (like being able to say "I like Heidegger," without someone snickering "Nazi!") It still sounds somewhat divisive to me... like saying "My
idol did all these good things, but the
person doesn't exist"? Does anyone else get that?