Savantism

Savantism

Abstract

Savantism, also known as “Savant Syndrome” is an exceptionally rare phenomenon that has not been fully studied by science and has been proven to affect the total human condition, physically, socially and most of all, psychologically. The purpose of this paper is to provide the readers view of this rare, but exceptional condition. It aims to instill awareness to the readers on the background of Savantism and its effect on one's the human condition. Also, this paper aims to inform people that such disorder actually exists. In relation to this, it aims to make readers more humane and selfless to improve interaction with other people with such disorder. This paper could also help us understand intelligence in a deeper aspect.

Savantism

Introduction

One of the earliest reports that introduced Savant syndrome was made by Benjamin Rush on the year 1789. The eminent American physician Benjamin Rush described the case of Thomas Fuller, who was of distinctly subnormal intelligence but could calculate with astonishing rapidity. When Rush asked Fuller how many seconds a man had lived who was 70 years, 17 days, and 12 hours old, he took only 90 seconds to come up with the correct answer: 2,210,500,800--even making corrections for the 17 leap years included in the man's life span. Despite his fascinating ability, Thomas hardly understands anything, either theoretical or practical. The first account of savant syndrome was published in a German medical journal in 1783, and described a young man who had this ability. Another type of mathematical skill is lightning calculation. Other splinter skills include being able to calculate distances and angles with great precision by sight, and being able to accurately gauge the passing of time without a clock or watch. The term "idiot savant" was introduced in 1887. The word “Savant" is derived from the French "savoire", meaning "to know" (Treffert, 2006).

Examples of autistic savants would include Kim Peek (1951), a man who can recite 12,000 complete books from memory but whose IQ is slightly below average and has motor difficulties. The 1988 movie The Rain Man is based on Peek's early life. Another autistic savant is Hikari Oe (1963), an autistic Japanese composer who writes music in spite of epilepsy and visual impairments as well as autism. Alonzo Clemons, an African American savant who lives in Colorado, sculpts animal figures in less than 20 minutes from images of animals that he sees briefly on a television or computer screen, yet he could not tie his shoes or feed himself as a child. Since his debut as a sculptor in 1986, Clemons has been able to live independently in his own apartment and compete in the Special Olympics as a weight lifter (Runco, 2004).

It is estimated that there are about 100 persons worldwide with savant syndrome; about 50 of these would be considered prodigious savants, meaning that their special skill is so outstanding that it would be remarkable even in an unimpaired person (Koegel, 2006).

Discussion and Analysis

Savant syndrome is not yet fully explored by ...