At long last, Herwig Czech’s study of Hans Asperger’s complicity in Nazi eugenic programs was published. My understanding is that he has been talking about his findings for some years, but only allowing select authors to view his documents. There’s also a new book by Edith Sheffer, who wrote this op-ed. The book comes out in May. The news, thanks to Czech, is not a surprise, but of course it’s generated significant news coverage.
I’m recommending folks read this stunning conversation between Steve Silberman and Max Sparrow. Sparrow writes, “It is deeply subversive to live proudly despite being living embodiments of our culture’s long standing ethical failings.”
And then read this twitter thread by Ari Ne’eman for an overview of what this finding doesn’t mean for diagnostic shifts.
More to come as I carefully read the article and Sheffer’s book.