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Comment by mburney | Hacker News Reader

The great logician and mathematician, Alfred Tarski, was an amphetamine user. As well as great sci fi writer Philip K. Dick.

So, in vulgar Popperian fashion, I declare the theories in your posts to be falsified!

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Paul Erdös was a heavy Ritalin and Amphetamine user for the last 25 years of his life. He died at age 82. He was enormously productive at an age when most mathematicians have stopped producing anything.

http://www.amphetamines.com/paul-erdos.html

How do you know those two wouldn't be even better had they not used amphetamines?

You are right, I don't know that, so while I can't falsify the anti-amphetamine claim in a rigorous scientific way, I can still point out that not all amphetamine users are spending their late night tweaking sessions on mindless tasks. That should be enough to at least spark some curiosity about the drug having some possible benefits, at least in moderation.

I think it comes down to a matter of values, i.e. the long-term constant health of your physical brain vs. the benefit from getting extra bursts of energy to focus on immediate work. Not something science can really answer.

" ... the long-term constant health of your physical brain vs. the benefit from getting extra bursts of energy to focus on immediate work"

BTW, the experience varies for people, and I suspect that if the drug is giving you that "speed" sensation it may not be a good choice. Stimulants calm me down. =I don't get a burst of energy; I relax and make plans, and see them through.

How do you know they would have?

Erdős. He quit for a month on a bet, but complained that mathematics had been set back a month.

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