Genius - Misplaced Pages

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A genius is a person of great intelligence, who shows an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work. Genii always show strong individuality and imagination, and are not only intelligent, but unique and innovative. The term may also be applied to someone who is a polymath. Although the term is sometimes used to denote the possession of a superior talent in any field (e.g., Roger Federer may be said to have a genius for tennis or Winston Churchill for statesmanship), in many of these cases the term is applied incorrectly and should instead be used specifically to denote an exceptional natural capacity of intellect and creative originality in areas of art, literature, music, science and mathematics.

Overview

Genius may come in a variety of forms, such as mathematical genius, literary genius, or poetic genius, etc. Artistic genius may show itself in early childhood as a prodigy or later in life; either way, genii eventually differentiate themselves from the others through great originality. Intellectual genii often have crisp, clear-eyed visions of given situations, in which interpretation is unnecessary, and they build or act on the basis of those facts, usually with tremendous energy. Accomplished genii in intellectual fields start out in many cases as child prodigies, gifted with superior memory or understanding.

The classic skill of the musical genius is the capability of holding many different melodies in one's head at once and being able to understand how they interact with one another. It is said that the great classical composers (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, etc.) could hold five, six or even seven different melodies in their minds at once. They could write complicated music with many different parts without having to hear it played. In comparison, the average person can only hold one melody in their memory. Mozart, who apparently completed his musical compositions in his head and simply wrote them down when they were completed, is supposed to have often said while drinking and conversing with friends, "I write music as a sow pisses."

The multiple intelligences hypothesis put forth by Harvard University professor Howard Gardner in his 1983 book Frames of Mind states there are at least seven types of intelligences, each with its own type of genius. This theory, however, is rejected by most psychologists.

The closest way of determining one's intelligence, devised and perfected in over a century of scientific studies is via an I.Q. test. Two among the most influential psychologists studying intelligence, Lewis M. Terman and Leta Hollingworth suggested two different numbers when considering the cut-off for genius in psychometric terms. Dr. Terman considered it to be an IQ of 140, while Dr. Hollingworth put it at an IQ of 180. However, both these numbers are ratio IQs which in deviation values, in use at present day, put the genius IQ cut-off at 136 (98.77th percentile) and 162 (99.994th percentile) respectively. There are several examples, however, of people with IQ levels in the genius range while having a disability or very low level in one of the subcategories. The IQ test has also been criticized as being racist in its application and conclusions despite that these tests are designed to eliminate race/sex for example by predicting numerical sequences, etc. Also, one does not necessarily have to possess an IQ of this stature to be a genius. A vast intelligence is needed, but the mental state of possessing genius is based primarily upon an incredible understanding of complex issues and problems, and, as stated above, a profound creativity and imagination.

Etymology

In Ancient Rome, the genius was the guiding or "tutelary" spirit of a person, or even of an entire gens. A related term is genius loci, the spirit of a specific locale. A specific spirit, or dæmon, may inhabit an image or icon, giving it supernatural powers.

A comparable term from Arabic lore is a djinn, often Anglicized as "genie". Note, however, that this term is considered a false friend, not a cognate by most Anglo-American anthropologists. Recent work by Russian, Romanian, Italian and a few American linguists may return the word to cognate status.

For more information on these etymological roots, see Genius (mythology).

Limitations

Genii are often accused of lacking common sense, or emotional sensitivity. Stories of a genius in a given field being unable to grasp "everyday" concepts are abundant and of ancient vintage: in his dialog Theætetus, Plato offers a picturesque anecdote of the absentmindedness of Thales. Some individuals in this arena of "absent-minded professors" and persons lacking normal social skills fall in the Autistic spectrum (such as Asperger Syndrome). A genius's intense focus on a given subject might appear obsessive-compulsive in nature, but it might also simply be a choice made by the individual. If one is performing groundbreaking work in one's field, maintaining other elements of life might logically be relegated to insignificance.

While the absent-minded professor notion is not without merit, a genius is just as likely to encounter emotional problems as anyone else. Note the peculiarities of figures like Glenn Gould. Eccentricities such as the ones conveyed by Gould are most likely because of the vast brainpower which normally comes with genius. Einstein was also known for his quirky behaviour. Some genii works are also unappreciated during their lifetimes due to their tendency to be ahead of their time.

Socio-emotional problems are more prevalent in genii with an IQ above 145 (on the Wechsler Scale). Asynchronous development is the primary cause of this. As most children do not share gifted children's interests, vocabulary, or desire to organize activities, the genius child may withdraw from society.

Some research shows that reasons other than maladjustment make companionship difficult to find for genii. As intelligence of a person increases, the number of those whom he or she considers peers tends to decrease. For example, at an IQ of 135 (on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) only every hundredth person would be of equal or greater IQ. This number shrinks significantly as IQ goes up.

Dr. Leta Hollingworth introduced the idea of an essential "communication limit" based on IQ. According to her theory, to be a good leader of one's contemporaries, he/she must be more intelligent but not too much more intelligent than the people who are being led. This implies that genii may not make good leaders of those substantially less gifted and that they could have disdain for authority. The theory also states that children and adults become intellectually ostracized from their contemporaries when an IQ difference of 30 points or more exists.

Philosophies

Variegated examples from philosophers are indicative of attempts to either propose a definition of what genius is and what that implies in a limited context, or to establish certain qualifications that could deem "genius" as explicable and of fundamental value in a broader human context.

In the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer, genius is a person in whom intellect predominates over "will" much more than within the average person. In Schopenhauer's aesthetics, this predominance of the intellect over the will allows the genius to create artistic or academic works that are objects of pure, disinterested contemplation, the chief criterion of the aesthetic experience for Schopenhauer. Their remoteness from mundane concerns means that Schopenhauer's genii often display maladaptive traits in more mundane concerns; in Schopenhauer's words, they fall into the mire while gazing at the stars.

In the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, genius is the ability to independently arrive at and understand concepts that would normally have to be taught by another person. In the Kant Dictionary (ISBN 0-631-17535-0), Howard Caygill talks of the essential character of "genius" for Kant being originality. This genius is a talent for producing ideas which can be described as non-imitative. Kant's discussion of the characteristics of genius is largely contained within the Critique of Judgement and was well received by the romantics of the early 19th century.

Study of genius

Reader's Digest reported on a study of life and habits of many genii. Writers concluded that common characteristics of genii have 3 things in common:

Systematic and orderly approaches to problem solving
Sense of wonder, ability to look at thing in a fresh, almost childlike way. They keep an open mind and a flexible attitude on all subjects
Ability to concentrate with greater depth and intensity than the average person

References

"Psychometrics, Misplaced Pages". Retrieved 2007-09-12.
"General Intelligence Factor, Misplaced Pages". Retrieved 2007-09-12.
""genius." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online". 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
"Children Above 180 IQ: Standford-Binet Origin and Development, by Leta Stetter Hollingworth". 1975. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
"Statistical Distribution of Childhood IQ Scores, by John Scoville". Retrieved 2007-09-12.

Harold Bloom (2002). Genius: A Mosaic of One Hundred Exemplary Creative Minds. Warner Books. ISBN 0-446-52717-3. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
Clifford A. Pickover (1998-05-01). Strange Brains and Genius: The Secret Lives of Eccentric Scientists and Madmen. Plenum Publishing Corporation. ISBN 0-306-45784-9. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
James Gleick (1992-09-29). Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman. Pantheon. ISBN 0-679-40836-3. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Stephen Jay Gould (1991). The Mismeasure of Man, revised and expanded. W. W. Norton. ISBN 0-393-03972-2. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
David W. Galenson (2005-12-27). Old Masters and Young Geniuses : The Two Life Cycles of Artistic Creativity. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-12109-5. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Francis Galton. Hereditary Genius.

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