From Object to Life

In 2004 David discovered that he had a form of high-functioning autism called Asperger's syndrome, that many autistics are attracted to colors, flickering lights and explanations, and that they find it painful to look in other's eyes. He discovered that Wittgenstein, Einstein, Weil, Bohm, Marcel and at least some of the early Gnostics probably had Asperger's, and that to a surprising extent, this fact explained the nature of their writings. David noticed that the parents of autistic children describe their children in exactly the same way that ancient religious figures described their disciples--as being asleep--as lacking eyes to see--as blind rule followers--seeing others only as objects--as blind to life. David Duncan is a philosopher who for thirty years has been fascinated by the way in which an unusual group of scientists, philosophers, and religious figures thought. These same joyous, obsessive instincts are explored in From Object to Life. In fact, it was instinct that inspired David to present the ideas in this book as a collection of remarks.