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Alan Turing Research Paper

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Is there more to success than being remembered? Because, by those standards, some fairly awful people would be revered today. Success is not just wealth or political prowess. Again, with such blindly constructed values, it is easy to celebrate those who do not deserve to be. Success is determined by the people you help with the talents you have, regardless of if you are remembered for it. Alan Turing, mathematician and the creator of early computers, exemplifies success. He has been credited with the quote, “Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine,”. And he has done the unimaginable. Alan Turing grew up in a time riddled with German war crimes, during World War I (“World”). This could …show more content…

He was born to an English military family, serving in India (“Alan”). His parents decided to send him back to England to study (“Alan”). As a child, Turing had few friends, with the exception of a male companion who later died of bovine tuberculosis (Holt). After his friend, Turing became highly secluded and focused. In his childhood, he was deeply focused on the studies of mathematics and science (“Alan”). Later on, he was a successful student and athlete at the University of Cambridge (“Alan”). After writing an insightful paper on mathematics, he studied at Princeton University (“Alan”). During World War II, he worked on one of the first computers. This computer solved the German Enigma Code and ended the war (“Alan”). Despite the major contributions he made to his country, his achievements were not recognized in his lifetime. The work he did was kept top secret (Holt). Because of this, he was treated poorly by the state, without consideration of his work (Holt). After the War, Turing decided to teach at the University of Manchester (Holt). While teaching there, he had an affair with a student (Holt). The student and friend then robbed Turing’s home, knowing a homosexual would not go to the police when his preferences are a crime. Much to their surprise, Turing contacted the authorities (Holt). This is astonishing, he strove for justice even when he was at risk of conviction, Turing was convicted of “gross indecency”, and sentenced to chemical castration via female hormones (Holt). Turing was humiliated and upset by what was happening to his body. A toxic mix of embarrassment, loneliness, and fear led him to make a drastic decision. On June 7, 1954, he took his own life (“Alan”). After a life of service to the state and the sciences, a disregard for human rights brought on the end of a highly influential

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