Wilhelm Reich

As part of some reading I did on the post below (Matrism, Patrism and Intellectual Fascism) I came across Wilhelm Reich.

This was one interesting character. He did a lot of research on energy released from decaying matter, and developed a theory of orotone energy, around which he built several other theories, including the building and selling of cabinets which he claimed had extraordinary healing factors. It was this last that brought his downfall by the FDA in the US - he died in prison after having many of his papers burnt by the US legal system. I find the burning of scientific documents, no matter how dubious, to be utterly inexcusable.

Reich did a lot of thinking about sexuality, social psychology and nuclear holocaust. He had studied under Freud in Vienna and fled Germany when the Nazis took power, due to his links with the socialist movement in Germany. He settled in the US having been persecuted across Europe by both 'sides' and was finally brought down by his failure to obey an injunction.

His will (http://www.orgone.org/wr-vs-usa/wr70308a.htm) shows partially how paranoid he had become, but that's not surprising - the FSA and FBI were out to nail him by the end and even placed agents inside his research centre. It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.

Like Einstein in his later years, Reich was obsessed with his theory to the point of negating his own obvious ability, and his own political views made him an enemy of the hard right in the US much as it had in Germany.

Fascinating.