September 1, 2009
Turing
I had no idea that Turing was a homosexual or that Britain used chemical castration.
Turing was subjected to chemical castration in 1952 after being found guilty of the charge of gross indecency for having a homosexual relationship, an illegal act at the time. He committed suicide two years later.
More than 19,000 people have added their names to the petition since it opened three weeks ago, urging the government to “recognize the tragic consequences of prejudice that ended this man’s life and career.”
The petition was created by computer scientist John Graham-Cumming, who said he grew “mad” at the country’s memory of a man he says should be considered one of its national heroes.
comments
Leave a Reply
Oh, Andrew, you must must must must must read Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges. It is one of the best biographies I have ever read, though the end is almost unendurably painful
I will put it on the list.
Hodges is really good. He leads you through what it was that Turing really achieved in the field of ‘artificial intelligence’ and he is smart and sensitive with respect to the man’s emotional life.
The way Turing was treated was a crime, and given what he accomplished on behalf of his country, it is even more criminal, his fate.
I knew about the homosexuality and the suicide, but not the chemical castration.
I think it is not unlikely that the motherfricking drugs contributed to the state of mind that led him to bite the poisoned apple.
You might also want to have a gander at Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson, in which Turing is a minor, but beautifully written character. [Also, it's one of the best books I've ever read, so any excuse to recommend it is gleefully taken.]
The Turing memorial bench at Carnegie Mellon, even with its Cafe Press-level design, is a very fine bench.
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/fredw/2179815
[...] couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I was not aware of Alan Turing’s fate. Turns out a petition actually did something for once, Gordon Brown [...]
[...] couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I was not aware of Alan Turing’s fate. Turns out a petition actually did something for once, Gordon Brown [...]