On the Worth of Humanity

[Saxtonite]

I also find it odd that you fetishize "great men" to such an extent, yet fail to realize how much of their greatness is owed to circumstance, serendipity, and infrastructure put into place by other people to allow their "greatness" to flower.......Similarly, how many great artists, philosophers, scientists, and statesmen have lived and died as herders, farmers, beggars, lepers, or criminals because they were born in shitty circumstances and weren't allowed to flower?

Weren't there several "great men" who were poor like that & ended up getting into those sorts of fields? (Mendeleev was one I remember)

[Akhlut]

I also find it odd that you fetishize "great men" to such an extent, yet fail to realize how much of their greatness is owed to circumstance, serendipity, and infrastructure put into place by other people to allow their "greatness" to flower.......Similarly, how many great artists, philosophers, scientists, and statesmen have lived and died as herders, farmers, beggars, lepers, or criminals because they were born in shitty circumstances and weren't allowed to flower?

Weren't there several "great men" who were poor like that & ended up getting into those sorts of fields? (Mendeleev was one I remember)

Mea culpa for me phrasing it in such a way as to make it seem universal and never without exception. I was speaking in hyperbolic terms without making it clear; however, while one will occasionally see lower-class people break through all the barrier placed in front of them, it is usually quite rare. But, even then, circumstances and serendipity over things which one cannot control play a big influence; Mendeleev, for instance, was the grandson of a Russian Orthodox priest and his family could afford to go to seminaries and Gymnasiums (equivalent to US high schools) back in the 1850s, so they were of at least some means (probably closer to middle-class than lower-class). I will say, though, that one can expect that members of the upper-class and middle-class are going to produce people who are more likely to meet their full potential simply because they can afford to get an education, eat, and get healthcare all at the same time. Even members of the lower-class who can secure the latter two with relative ease often have a tough time of getting an education simply due to lack of time by sinking so much effort into getting enough food to eat and getting adequate healthcare.