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“The Life and Work of Linus Pauling (1901-1994): A Discourse on the Art of Biography.”
February 28 - March 2, 1995
Videos: Session 2: The Biographer's Picture of Linus Pauling
Session Introduction: “The Biographer's Picture of Linus Pauling.”Fred Horne (Chemistry, Oregon State University)
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7:09 - Transcript Available
Horne introduces Session II of the conference by describing the history of Linus Pauling's relationship with Oregon State
University and acknowledging those responsible for organizing a conference in Pauling's honor. Horne also shares a few stories
of his own personal encounters with Pauling, including a memorable trip to Iran during which Pauling urged the Shah to eliminate
sugar from his diet.
“The Bootlegger's Son: Or the Stochastic Method in Biography.”Tom Hager (Pauling biographer)
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36:45 - Transcript Available
Hager discusses the processes that he utilized, and the pitfalls that he encountered, in writing his biography of Linus Pauling.
He notes that, in attempting to develop a biography of a hugely-important figure, one must be cognizant of the disparities
that inevitably arise between "fond memory and fact," and be aware of the gradual development of public personas that differ
markedly from private habits and attitudes. In the case of Pauling, the biographer also faces a problem of information overload,
due to the huge amount of primary-source material saved by Pauling over the course of his long life. In attempting to develop
a clear portrait of Pauling, Hager stresses the importance of what he came to term "stochastic biography," a method of inquiry
initially developed by Pauling himself, wherein the investigator attempts "to divine truth by conjecture."
“Analyzing Pauling's Personality: A Three Generational, Three Decade Project.”Ted Goertzel (Sociology, Rutgers University)
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34:56 - Transcript Available
Goertzel discusses the evolution of the Pauling biography that he co-authored with his parents over the course of three decades.
The Goertzels' project relied in part on an analysis of Pauling's responses to a Rorschach test, which the authors then used
to develop their thoughts on Pauling's personality. Goertzel presents the Pauling Rorschach data and the subsequent analysis
that was derived, noting both the advantages and the potential flaws of this method of biographical inquiry.
“The Biographical Quest: Some Personal Reflections of a Pauling Biographer on the Art and Science of Scientific Biography.”Robert Paradowski (Science, Technology, and Society, Rochester Institute of Technology)
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59:04 - Transcript Available
Paradowski utilizes examples from both film and literature to discuss his ideas on "the problems and the potential" for authors
of scientific biography. In examining Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane," Paradowski details the dangers inherent to a biographer's
quest for their subject's "secret self." Likewise, Paradowski uses Akira Kurosawa's "Rashomon" to illustrate the difficulties
that can be presented by differing accounts of the same events. Paradowski suggests that the modern approach to the writing
of biography has typically "oscillat[ed] between the extremes of hagiography and pathography," and that a tension between
the notions of "biography as art" and "biography as science" remains a core issue within the community of biographers. Paradowski
concludes by discussing the specific importance of all of his talk's themes to the particular subgenre of scientific biography.
“The Biographer's Picture of Linus Pauling.”Lily Kay (History of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
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13:42 - Transcript Available
In commenting on the presentations made in Session II, Kay reflects upon her own experience of writing about Linus Pauling
and certain other of molecular biology's more notable figures. Kay discusses aspects of her writing which did not necessarily
cast Pauling in a favorable light, and then puzzles over Pauling's generally warm response to what she had published. From
this experience, Kay finds herself in sympathy with Hager and Paradowski, who both wrestled with problems of arriving at a
single "truth" derived from contradictory sources and a paper record that is often difficult to navigate.
“Boswellizing Pauling.”Derek Davenport (Chemistry, Purdue University)
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20:55 - Transcript Available
Davenport responds directly to the talks delivered by Paradowski, Hager and Goertzel. In so doing, he finds common ground
with Hager's concept of "stochastic biography," though disagrees with the broadness of certain conclusions that Hager has
made about Pauling's life and work. Likewise, Davenport agrees with the central tenants of Paradowski's thesis, though questions
the grandeur of his approach. Goertzel's methods, however, he finds less agreeable, noting that "psycho-biographies, of scientists
at least, are by nature imprecise and frequently are impertinent in both senses of the word."
Watch Other Videos
Session I: Linus C. Pauling Day Lecture
Session 2: The Biographer's Picture of Linus Pauling
Session 3: The Personal View of Linus Pauling and His Work
Session 4: Historians and Contemporary Scientific Biography
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