[bcbrown]

Originally Posted by Troxx [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

A defining feature of the condition is not what I would really call a “stereotype”

Interesting, you've given me some food for thought. I don't want to derail this thread further, so I'll spoiler my response. If you have a further response, maybe take it to DMs?

 

Originally Posted by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum

Autism is currently defined as a highly variable neurodevelopmental disorder that is generally thought to cover a broad and deep spectrum, manifesting very differently from one person to another. The spectrum model should not be understood as a continuum running from mild to severe, but instead means that autism can present very differently in each person.

In other words, because it's a spectrum, it's not really possible for any one feature to be defining.

Certainly, a predisposition towards taking language extremely literally is common, as is a pedantic tendency to fixate on the "trees" instead of the "forest". And I bet we can both think of more than one person on this forum for whom that description is relevant.

However, that's not what I think about when I think about abstract thought.

Originally Posted by Hans Asperger

Autistic children have the ability to see things and evens around them from a new point of view, which often shows surprising maturity. This ability, which remains throughout life, can in favorable cases lead to exceptional achievements which others may never attain. Abstraction ability, for instance, is a prerequisite for scientific endeavour. Indeed, we find numerous autistic individuals among distinguished scientists.

It seems that for success in science and art, a dash of autism is essential. For success, the necessary ingredient may be an ability to turn away from the everyday world, from the simply practical, an ability to rethink a subject with originality so as to create in new untrodden ways.

In my mind higher mathematics is the epitome of abstract reasoning, and the prevalence of autistic people in STEM fields is what led to my initial objection. As Dr. Asperger wrote about one of his patients:

Seeing that he was already fascinated by geometry at age three, she drew a triangle (a three-cornered figure), a square (a four-cornered figure), and a pentangle (a five-cornered figure) for him in the sand. He immediately drew a line and a dot, proclaiming the line a two-cornered figure and the dot a one-cornered figure.