Einstein’s Brain: Genius, Culture, And Social Networks

Description

This book reviews the research on Einstein’s brain from a sociological perspective and in the context of the social brain paradigm. Instead of “Einstein, the genius of geniuses” standing on the shoulders of giants, Restivo proposes a concept of Einstein the social being standing on the shoulders of social networks. Rather than challenging Einstein’s uniqueness or the uniqueness of his achievements, the book grounds Einstein and his achievements in a social ecology opposed to the myths of the “I,” individualism, and the very idea of “genius.” “Einstein” is defined by the particular configuration of social networks that he engaged as his life unfolded, not by biological inheritances. Front Matter ....Pages i-xv “Einstein” as a Grammatical Illusion (Sal Restivo)....Pages 1-17 The Social Self: Beyond the Myth of Individualism (Sal Restivo)....Pages 19-37 Einstein’s Brain: A Conspiracy of Mythologies (Sal Restivo)....Pages 39-69 Genius: Standing on the Shoulders of Social Networks (Sal Restivo)....Pages 71-99 The Social Brain Paradigm (Sal Restivo)....Pages 101-121 The Social Brain: Implications for Therapeutic and Preventive Protocols in Psychiatry (Sal Restivo, Mario Incayawar, Jenelle M. Clarke)....Pages 123-137 Back Matter ....Pages 139-163