Benjamin Franklin, Civic Scientist

Guinnessy writes "Neal Lane, the ex-science advisor to President Clinton, has written an article in Physics Today magazine, that explains why he thinks Benjamin Franklin, was an early American prototype of a civic scientist, i.e. someone who would 'probably address many of today's concerns with wisdom, practicality, and a deep sense of civic responsibility.' Ironically the same issue has an example of a modern day civic scientist, a profile of Richard Meserve, a physicist who became a lawyer. Interesting stuff."

Comments

Re:Where are they now?

[Anonymous Coward]

Condoleeza Rice is very intelligent and was a child prodigy.

Re:Where are they now?

[toxic666]

Ben barely finished schooling (failing mathematics), was apprenticed to a brother and ran away to Philadelphia, discarding his apprentice obligation. He was educated, but not well even by colonial Boston standards.

He was, thus, condemned to become:

"the most ingenious scientist of his era rather than transcending into the pantheon of truly profound theorists such as Newton."

(Isaacson, "Benjamin Franklin, An American Life", Simon and Schuster, 2003)