Autism is a top news story causing debates in health care, education, childhood development and scientific research, but it’s a condition that’s been affecting people for possibly centuries. While experts argue over the causes of autism, other researchers are speculating over certain cases that may mean some of history’s brightest thinkers were autistic at some level. This list shouldn’t be received as a claim that since some individuals found success — or even changed the world — despite having autism or autistic tendencies we should stop finding a cure or funding programs to help those with autism, as some reports do. But if you’re taking a class or doing your own graduate research on the brain and the way the mind works, you might be interested in the speculations about the following thinkers believed to be autistic.

Controversial Cases

Professor Michael Fitzgerald is one of the leading researchers who is attempting to posthumously diagnose famous thinkers, backed up by the idea that the genes responsible for originality and creativity are also attributed to autism and Asperger’s. Take a look at some of the more controversial cases here.

1. Charles Darwin: Evolution, natural selection and the Galapagos: those are all terms that we probably wouldn’t have heard of if it wasn’t for Charles Darwin’s controversial and revolutionary research. The scientist — born in England in 1809 — is also believed to have had Asperger’s. He was a loner as a child and was obsessed with cataloging and collecting even as a young person.
2. Albert Einstein: This story reports that Cambridge and Oxford scientists have found convincing evidence that Albert Einstein probably had Asperger’s syndrome even as young as seven, obsessively repeating sentences over and over, and presenting confusing lectures when he was older. Others say that Einstein’s famous sense of humor means he couldn’t have had Asperger’s.
3. Sir Isaac Newton: Newton was reportedly quiet and isolated, and had odd social skills, sometimes giving lectures even if no one showed up.
4. Thomas Jefferson: While it’s been speculated that Jefferson had Asperger’s, others wonder if he was just exceedingly eccentric.

Math, Science, and Business

Read about revolutionaries in math, economics, business, engineering and other science fields who are autistic or who are believed to be autistic.

5. Richard Borcherds: High profile mathematician and Berkeley professor Richard Borcherds is a controversial case, but the Fields Medal winner has been noted to have severe trouble interacting with people.
6. Vernon L. Smith: Professor and Nobel laureate Vernon L. Smith is a prominent economist and is a high achiever on the autism spectrum, attributing characteristics like extreme attention to detail and focus to the condition.
7. Nikola Tesla: Electrical and mechanical engineer and inventor Nikola Tela is one of the most important contributors to electromagnetism and electricity, and is also thought to have had autism.
8. Temple Grandin: CSU professor, prominent researcher in animal behavior, and animal welfare advocate Temple Grandin has high-functioning autism and credits supportive teachers with helping her channel her learning and behavioral disability in a productive way.
9. Paul Dirac: Nobel Prize-winning physicist Paul Dirac had "very repetitive behavior" but rarely spoke and was practically incapable of feeling empathy.
10. Keith Joseph: The "Father of Thatcherism" Keith Joseph may have created his political philosophy based on his autistic tendencies and behavior, which were sometimes regarded as harsh, lacking in empathy and eccentric.

Philosophers

From Immanuel Kant to Simone Weil, some of these philosophers might surprise you.

11. Socrates: The oldest speculation on this list is about Socrates, who often repeated phrases and ideas, wasn’t concerned with his family, constantly questioned others, had odd social behaviors, and whose philosophies are characterized by constant analyses and questioning.
12. Immanuel Kant: Kant famously said that empathy wasn’t necessary to morality, leading some to believe he had Asperger’s.
13. Simone Weil: Philosopher and activist Simone Weil picked up on ancient Greek and Sanskrit as a girl and is thought to be autistic by Professor Fitzgerald.
14. Ludwig Wittgenstein: Another connection made between the creativity and originality gene and autism has led Fitzgerald to speculate that philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein — who studied language, mathematics, the mind, and logic — may have had some form of the condition.

Writers, Musicians, and Artists

Andy Warhol, Emily Dickinson and Samuel Beckett may have been more than eccentric characters: they may have also had autism.

15. Christopher Knowles: Artist Christopher Knowles’ work is based on his extraordinary typed-up patterns, inspired by his autistic behavior.
16. Andy Warhol: Eccentric Andy Warhol was also shy and had strange social skills. His famous pop art also followed repeated patterns, and some friends have said that he lacked empathy.
17. Emily Dickinson: The poet Emily Dickinson was a recluse and puzzling writer, and Vernon Smith believes she may have been autistic, too.
18. Henriett Seth F.: Hungarian poet and artist Henriett Seth F. has autism, and has been repeating words and behaviors since she was a toddler. She has also won writing contests since the age of 10.
19. Jonathan Lerman: Gifted young artist Jonathan Lerman is just 23 years old, and has been diagnosed with autism most of his life, but his charcoal drawings have been on display in New York for years already.
20. Peter Howson: Scottish painter Peter Howson creates aggressive politically and socially minded works of art and was even the official war artist for the Bosnian Civil War. This year, however, Howson had to appoint a legal guardian to monitor his financial affairs since his autism has limited him in that capacity.
21. Samuel Beckett: Philosopher-writer Samuel Beckett wrote important works like Waiting for Godot, which have tipped some researchers off to his possible autism.
22. Tim Page: Pulitzer Prize winner Tim Page is a journalism and music professor at University of Southern California and also has high-functioning autism and Asperger’s.
23. W.B. Yeats: Irish poet and playwright W.B. Yeats is one of the most important writers of the 20th century, and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923. He’s also one of Fitzgerald’s studies in autism.
24. Daniel Tammet: Language whiz and mathematician Daniel Tammet is one of the most studied autistic savants right now, and has even written about his experiences with Asperger’s in two books.
25. Hans Christian Andersen: Danish children’s book writer Hans Christian Andersen wrote "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina" and "The Little Match Girl," among other favorites, but he was known for his consistent experiences with unrequited love.
26. Michelangelo: Michelangelo may have been autistic, as scientists point to his difficulty communicating with people, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, extreme attention to detail, and preference for isolation.
27. Jonathan Swift: Fitzgerald also believes the Modest Proposal writer was autistic, possibly because of his tendency to publish using aliases and great creativity and originality.
28. George Orwell: Animal Farm and 1984 writer George Orwell may have been autistic, but he is also known for his sharp wit and support of social injustice and persecution, which aren’t always characteristic of autism.
29. James Joyce: Joyce’s stream of consciousness style and troubled social life may have been products of high-functioning autism.
30. H.G. Wells: H.G. Wells was supposedly "socially insecure, controlling, lonely, cruel and emotionally immature," which has convinced some that he was autistic.