Einstein: Chapter's 1-4

       The most obvious quality that impacted Einstein's scientific life, as noted by Isaacson, was his curiosity.   It can be stated in several ways.  It seems that once again the concept of the highly motivated investigator appears in the biography of a great scientist.  It is said in many ways.  The exemplary scientist is passionate, always skeptical, and does not conform to the dominant schools of thought.  Isaacson paints Einstein to be an "icon of our age" with regard to these qualities.  At the end of the opening chapter, Issacson offers a powerful quote from Einstein on the importance of individuality.  Einstein's belief that "only the individual can produce the new ideas" struck me the most.  I am not sure if we are doing enough in science today with younger students to foster individuality, creativity, and most importantly, true passion for science.  I was lucky enough in high school to be steered toward a one week program in St. Louis that gave an in depth look at different practices within medicine and science.  Without this program, I don't believe I would have formed such an interest in science, and yet opportunities like these do not seem prevalent for students in high school.  I believe fostering individuality requires the expansion of opportunities for young learners to explore, in real scenarios, what it means to be a scientist.  Textbooks and rote memorization, as Einstein would most likely agree, have a finite value.
       Another distinction I see in Einstein's autobiography is the description of personality.  Isaacson notes religious beliefs, musical preferences, and the general eccentricity of Einstein's personality.  We did not see this with McClintock, but both can be labelled as great scientists.  I believe, as scientists, the telos does not vary between individuals.  However, as humans, the experiences an individual has that shapes their personal characteristics can vary, while those characteristics can consequently allow them to achieve their scientific telos.  In other words, McClintock developed her dedication to science through her independence, while Einstein learned to love science through the exploration of his early passions.