Physicist David Deutsch Highlights "Rationalisation" as Core of Antisemitism

Renowned British physicist David Deutsch recently articulated a strong stance on antisemitism, describing what he calls "wishful thinking" in this context not as genuine desire but as a "rationalisation intended to legitimise hurting Jews." His comments, shared on social media, underscore a critical perspective on the enduring nature of anti-Jewish sentiment.

Deutsch, widely recognized as the "father of quantum computing" and a visiting professor at the University of Oxford, has extensively written and spoken on the topic of antisemitism. He posits that it functions as a recurring "pattern" of irrational thought, serving to justify harm against Jewish people. This pattern, he argues, persists across diverse societies and historical periods.

In his tweet, Deutsch drew a stark comparison to illustrate his point: > "It's worse than that: This 'wishful thinking' you refer to is not wishing for anything: it's a rationalisation intended to legitimise hurting Jews. It's like me telling you I'll stop being mean to you if you stop making Mr Putin invade countries." This analogy highlights the perceived absurdity of linking harm against Jews to unrelated conditions or behaviors.

According to Deutsch's framework, when older justifications for animosity towards Jews become irrelevant, new ones are readily invented to replace them. This mechanism ensures the continued "legitimacy of hurting Jews," which he suggests is often more crucial to perpetrators than the actual act of inflicting harm. This perspective challenges conventional understandings of prejudice.

His work suggests that this "pattern" is unique, representing an irrational way of thinking about right and wrong that specifically targets Jews and lacks close parallels in other forms of irrationality or immorality. Deutsch, who was born to a Jewish family in Haifa, Israel, continues to contribute to the philosophical and scientific discourse on complex societal issues.