The Pattern Seekers

September 14, 2020
Drawing on more than three decades of research, Baron-Cohen (The Science of Evil), director of Cambridge University’s Autism Research Centre, presents an intriguing “new theory of human invention.” He contends that human brains have an “engine” he calls the “Systemizing Mechanism,” which “seeks out if-and-then patterns.” Strongest in people drawn to certain fields, such as science, music, and law, where precision and detail are crucial, the mechanism is also a hallmark of people with autism. To buttress his theory, he shares research demonstrating that “autistic people, those in STEM, and other hyper-systemizers” share systemizing genes. Developing that capacity, he concludes, was a landmark in human evolution, enabling the invention of complex tools and separating humans from all other species. Baron-Cohen isn’t always convincing that human cognition is innately different from that of other highly intelligent animals, such as crows, elephants, and other primates, which, as he acknowledges, also evince theory of mind, as well as problem-solving and tool-using skills. Nonetheless, his work buttresses the case that aspects of autism can be positive, and that thoughtful guidance can channel some with that diagnosis into productive and meaningful work. Readers interested in accessible and innovative looks at the human mind, such as those of Yuval Noah Harari, will be fascinated.