(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons )

 

BY HANK KOEBLER

ANCHOR LOGAN TITTLE


Author Malcolm Gladwell is known for making bold statements in his books, but a comment he made comparing Bill Gates to rival computer titan Steve Jobs during a public appearance at the Toronto Public Library is stirring up debate in the tech world.

“50 years from now he’ll be remembered for his charitable work. No one will even remember what Microsoft is, and all the great entrepreneurs of this era, people will have forgotten Steve Jobs.”

Is Gladwell right? Will society value charity more than iPads in 2062? Gates was named Time’s Person of the Year in 2005 for his charity work, while no public record exists of Jobs donating to charitable organizations.

A writer from Forbes disagrees with the importance of Gates’ philanthropy, saying history remembers success more than it remembers generosity:

“Who is better known, Albert Schweitzer or Thomas Edison ? Father Damien or J.P. Morgan? Steve Jobs wasn’t a great humanitarian; but what does not being a great humanitarian have to do with being particularly forgettable?”

Gates’ impact shouldn’t only be measured by the amount of money he donated, argues a Computer World writer who says the Microsoft founder improved the efficiency of charitable donations:

“Gates will be remembered not just for the millions of people whose lives he bettered or saved, but because he changed philanthropy itself, applying return on investment analysis to philanthropy, and making donations more effective. Jobs was outright hostile to philanthropic efforts, shutting down Apple's philanthropic programs.”

Regardless of who actually is more well-known in 2062, a writer from The Verge says the more important point Gladwell made is about how society’s values will change:

“Though his language feels tongue-in-cheek, Gladwell's broader point is about the fact that we're idolizing businessmen for their money-making aptitude, whereas their long-term legacy will actually depend on the broader impact they had on the world.”

Gates formally retired from Microsoft’s day-to-day operations in 2008 to focus on his charity, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.