Russell,

On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 14:01:08 +1300, Russell McMahon wrote:

> Once upon a time in a country far far away from most of us (and quite close
> to others) there was a guy who got lucky in a big way. By discovering a
> quite trivial matter at an opportune time he was able to accumulate a vast
> fortune. he "discovered" dynamite. If you ask most people who the discoverer
> of dynamite was, or whether they care, the answer would be no on both
> counts. If you ask most people what Alfred Nobel did and whether they care
> the answer would be ..... . By using his capital to set up the Nobel Prize
> system lucky Alfie has generated capital which, in human terms, stretches
> far beyond the grave. There may well have been many richer men in his day
> but, if there were, few people know their names. If this sort of capital is
> not what makes you excited you are welcome to do something else with your
> millions.

Well not being "most people", I know all about Nobel's story!  You missed out a link that I think does him a
disservice - when he invented dynamite he did so to improve the mining industry, which was improved
dramatically with a great advantage to those taking part (although accidents did take their toll, of course).
However, Nobel also thought - terribly wrongly as we now know - that the effects of Dynamite were so terrible
that the knowledge that the "other side" had it would mean that nobody would start any more wars.  He was
shocked to find that he had utterly underestimated the callousness of leaders in persuing their personal aims
at any cost to the men they command, and that his invention was used as a weapon.  He felt he needed to "make
amends" for the terrible destructive power he unleashed, and as a direct result he set up the Nobel Prize
foundation.  He wanted to give the world something to make up for what he saw as his culpability in increasing
harm to people, and as it turns out he certainly succeeded in changing what he is remembered for, as you point
out.  If Dynamite and its derivatives had never had military uses, maybe he would have just spent the money
himself - we will never know, but the fact that he converted his financial capital into the kind that the
Nobel Prize represents was clearly capitalism at its best!

Cheers,

Howard Winter
St.Albans, England

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