Ted Kaczynski
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| + | '''Theodore Kaczynski''' (1942 – 2023), also known as the '''Unabomber''', was an American [[Mathematics education|mathematician]] and [[Domestic terrorism|domestic terrorist]]. He was a mathematics [[Child prodigy|prodigy]], but abandoned his academic career in 1969 to pursue a [[Simple living|primitive lifestyle]]. Between 1978 and 1995, Kaczynski murdered three individuals and injured 23 others in a nationwide [[mail bomb]]ing campaign against people he believed to be advancing modern technology and the destruction of the [[natural environment]]. He authored ''[[Industrial Society and Its Future]]'', a 35,000-word [[manifesto]] and [[Social criticism|social critique]] opposing [[Industrialisation|industrialization]], rejecting [[leftism]], and advocating for a nature-centered form of [[anarchism]]. | ||
| - | '''Dr. Theodore John''' "'''Ted'''" '''Kaczynski''' (born May 22, 1942), also known as the "'''Unabomber'''" (a [[portmanteau]] of ''university'' and ''airline bomber''), is an American [[mathematician]], [[Social criticism|social critic]], [[Anarcho-primitivism|anarcho-primitivist]], and [[Neo-Luddism|Neo-Luddite]] who engaged in a [[mail bomb]]ing campaign that spanned nearly 20 years, killing three people and injuring 23 others. | + | In 1971, Kaczynski moved to a remote cabin without [[Mains electricity|electricity]] or [[Tap water|running water]] near [[Lincoln, Montana]], where he lived as a [[recluse]] while learning [[survival skills]] to become [[Self-sustainability|self-sufficient]]. After witnessing the destruction of the [[wilderness]] surrounding his cabin, he concluded that living in nature was becoming impossible and resolved to fight industrialization and its destruction of nature through terrorism. In 1979, Kaczynski became the subject of what was, by the time of his arrest, the longest and most expensive investigation in the history of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI). The FBI used the case identifier UNABOM (University and Airline Bomber) before his identity was known, resulting in the media naming him the "Unabomber." |
| - | == See also == | + | |
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| - | * ''[[Das Netz]]'', a 2003 German film that includes a segment on Kaczynski | + | |
| - | * ''[[Italian Unabomber]]'', a terrorist responsible for a similar series of bombings in Italy beginning in 1994 | + | |
| - | * ''[[Manhunt: Unabomber]]'', a 2017 television miniseries that dramatizes the UNABOM investigation | + | |
| - | * ''[[P.O. Box Unabomber]]'', a 2011 Bulgarian play that includes Kaczynski as a character | + | |
| - | * ''[[Unabomber for President]]'', a campaign which aimed to elect the Unabomber in the 1996 United States presidential election | + | |
| - | * ''[[Unabomber: The True Story]]'', a 1996 television film that dramatizes the UNABOM investigation | + | |
| - | * ''[[Unabomber: In His Own Words]]'', is a 2020 Netflix documentary series focusing on his crimes and life | + | |
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| + | In 1995, Kaczynski sent a letter to ''[[The New York Times]]'' promising to "desist from terrorism" if the ''Times'' or ''[[The Washington Post]]'' published his manifesto, in which he argued that his bombings were extreme but necessary in attracting attention to the erosion of human freedom and dignity by modern technologies that require [[Mass movement (politics)|mass organization]]. The FBI and U.S. Attorney General [[Janet Reno]] pushed for the publication of the essay, which appeared in ''The Washington Post'' in September 1995. Upon reading it, Kaczynski's brother, [[David Kaczynski|David]], recognized the prose style and reported his suspicions to the FBI. After his arrest in 1996, Kaczynski—maintaining that he was sane—tried and failed to dismiss his [[public defender (United States)|court-appointed lawyers]] because they wished him to [[Insanity defense|plead insanity]] to avoid the [[capital punishment by the United States federal government|death penalty]]. He pleaded guilty to all charges in 1998 and was sentenced to eight consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole. Kaczynski died in prison of a reported [[suicide in prison|suicide]] | ||
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Revision as of 11:25, 11 June 2023
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Theodore Kaczynski (1942 – 2023), also known as the Unabomber, was an American mathematician and domestic terrorist. He was a mathematics prodigy, but abandoned his academic career in 1969 to pursue a primitive lifestyle. Between 1978 and 1995, Kaczynski murdered three individuals and injured 23 others in a nationwide mail bombing campaign against people he believed to be advancing modern technology and the destruction of the natural environment. He authored Industrial Society and Its Future, a 35,000-word manifesto and social critique opposing industrialization, rejecting leftism, and advocating for a nature-centered form of anarchism.
In 1971, Kaczynski moved to a remote cabin without electricity or running water near Lincoln, Montana, where he lived as a recluse while learning survival skills to become self-sufficient. After witnessing the destruction of the wilderness surrounding his cabin, he concluded that living in nature was becoming impossible and resolved to fight industrialization and its destruction of nature through terrorism. In 1979, Kaczynski became the subject of what was, by the time of his arrest, the longest and most expensive investigation in the history of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI used the case identifier UNABOM (University and Airline Bomber) before his identity was known, resulting in the media naming him the "Unabomber."
In 1995, Kaczynski sent a letter to The New York Times promising to "desist from terrorism" if the Times or The Washington Post published his manifesto, in which he argued that his bombings were extreme but necessary in attracting attention to the erosion of human freedom and dignity by modern technologies that require mass organization. The FBI and U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno pushed for the publication of the essay, which appeared in The Washington Post in September 1995. Upon reading it, Kaczynski's brother, David, recognized the prose style and reported his suspicions to the FBI. After his arrest in 1996, Kaczynski—maintaining that he was sane—tried and failed to dismiss his court-appointed lawyers because they wished him to plead insanity to avoid the death penalty. He pleaded guilty to all charges in 1998 and was sentenced to eight consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole. Kaczynski died in prison of a reported suicide
