Homage to Gregory Pincus

HOMAGE TO GREGORY PINCUS OSCAR HECHTER* Preface In science, as in religion, there are rituals, curious and contradictory but, nevertheless, sense making; most of us accept these practices most of the time. In a profession whose professed aim is to discover "truth," we all accept the fact that our papers rarely recount the truth of what actually transpired. Mistakes, zigzags, and the attendant emotional oscillations are excised to produce a well-ordered research product; a logical answer is provided to a logical question, often composed retrospectively. Working scientists have no difficulty living with this ritual. Tradition tells us that the elements excised—the unique personality of the researcher—are essentially trivial to the presentation ofthe solution ofa scientific problem. What counts are the results, the elegance of the demonstration, and the concept advanced. I am not sure that this traditional view is correct. We honor our distinguished colleagues in an essentially similar ritualistic way. Here, we excise the humanity of the individual involved—his weaknesses and foibles as well as his strengths, hates as well as loves— together with all passion and any resemblance to the reality ofthe man. Generally, our Festschrifts represent a very indirect and peripheral expression ofaffection and admiration for the man we wish to honor. Our memorials and obituaries list achievements, contributions, and honors received. Distinguished scientists are occasionally wise, generous, kindly, sympathetic, and helpful to some people some ofthe time, so these human qualities appear in statements honoring our scientific heroes—living or dead. But the man as a man in relation to his science rarely comes through. I feel that Gregory Goodwin Pincus—"Goody" to his friends—was too big a man to treat in ritualistic fashion. Pincus for me represents the * Institute for Biomedical Research, Education Research Foundation, American Medical Association , Chicago, Illinois 60610. 358 Oscar Hechter · Gregory Pincus Perspectives in Biology and Medicine · Spring ic, prototype of a new scientist, whose life and achievements merit critical examination and analysis. On a planet rapidly being irreversibly transformed by science and technology in ways not clearly foreseen, we desperately need information about the mechanisms by which individual scientists change the world. Pincus and his life merit a critical case history because, if new Pincuses arise in the future, they will have a powerful impact upon the world. Most of us who knew him and those who worked with him felt that he was a great man, but these were intuitive feelings. When I discussed Pincus with various scientific friends, more frequently than not I encountered a strange dichotomy. They generally conceded Pincus was a great man because of his development of the Pill, and he deserved the Nobel Prize, yes; but for peace, not for science. I wondered then as I wonder now how it was possible for them to consider Pincus to be a "great man," but somehow not a "great scientist." The problem, of course, is one of definition. How do we define and measure qualities which make for a "great man" or a "great scientist"? Was Pincus truly "great"? And ifso, why? What unique qualities did he possess? These are important questions which demand an answer ifwe are to place Pincus in history. I cannot objectively answer the questions raised for at least two reasons: It is difficult for those living at the time to evaluate a contemporary analytically . And this is particularly true for someone whose association with Pincus extended over more than twenty years as did mine. I feel, however , that I did come to know some aspects of the man as scientist, and these I should record as objectively as I can. It is apparent that, despite aspirations toward objectivity on my part, a rich subjective and emotional background remains. Introduction All men change the world to a greater or lesser extent. On very rare occasions, a man has a profound, irreversible impact upon the world as a whole by virtue of his achievement and performance. We designate as "great" such few who change the world in ways that contribute to the welfare and development ofmankind—whether by changing institutions, cultural practices, patterns oflife, or modes ofseeking order in a universe ofchaos. Gregory Pincus was one ofthese. 359...