James P. Schmidt

A Tribute to Michael Posner Deserving of a Wide Readership

Festschrifts in published form are susceptible to many pitfalls. These include writers exaggerating the accomplishments of the individual, often by attributing to that individual discoveries, ideas, or themes that are more correctly attributed, at least in part, to other individuals. Second, such books often contain little of general interest, appealing primarily to the first and second generation students of the honoree. Third, such books often tend to be quite one-sided in their orientation, focusing, as they do, on the accomplishments of a single individual and ignoring or unilaterally attacking his or her rival theorists. Fourth, such books are subject to a considerable level of repetition. Finally, such volumes tend to be filled with inside jokes, ideas, or jargon that will baffle the noninsider who reads the book. Many of these problems are particularly evident if the book is a written version of an oral conference that occurred earlier. This book is, indeed, the outgrowth of a conference that was held to honor Michael Posner in May of 2003 at the University of Oregon. That said, this book avoids these pitfalls and deserves a wide readership. This sidestepping of the pitfalls typical of festschrifts is attributable to both the editors and the authors of the book and, more important, to the central and significant contribution of the honoree, Michael Posner. As is true of most scientists who make significant contributions, Posner’s contribution is as much in the form of the paradigm and ideas that he offers as in the actual discoveries that he makes. The authors of the various chapters of this book fully recognize that fact and repeatedly return to his fundamental propositions, which are also laid out in the initial chapter of the book.