David Gelernter

[drscott]

The author of this piece is more famous for surviving an attack by the Unabomber than his work in computer science and virtual environments. But he knows where the new tide of ideologically-based ignorance is leading us. Teaching children "correct" attitudes instead of history and the tools of thought to interpret it is destroying our ability to make reasonable judgments as a democracy.

Here's what happened to him for daring to create new technology:

In 1993, Yale computer science professor David Gelernter opened what he thought was an unsolicited doctoral dissertation. It exploded, destroying his right hand and eye and making his torso resemble a construction site. Gelernter, bleeding and "royally annoyed," walked to the local hospital. His blood pressure zero, surgeons barely saved his life.

Still no bookshelves.