Favorite Genius
Happy New Year! As we all begin to jump back into our daily routines, after the holidays, I thought we could all take a brief pause to appreciate genius.
In my stocking appeared: "The book of Total Genius" (from the Mensa Society), which asked me compile a list of my favorite geniuses as well as their "claim to genius" and the "reason for inclusion on the list". After completing my own personal list, it asked me to poll my 'friends and colleagues' to help compile a second list. So now I'm asking for your help in constructing this list.
What I'm looking for (per genius is):
- Name (of genius)
- Claim to Genius
- Reason for inclusion (on the genius list)
... Apparently I'm not suppose to read any more of the book until my list is complete!!
posted by Cosd @ 9:31 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
That's a difficult question. I guess it depends on how one defines genius. I see it as creating/discovering a rarity and /or demonstrating understanding of numerous areas of knowledge. Some works of art or 'events' would never be produced if that person existed. Other scientific discoveries would likely have occured, but maybe not at a similar time. As I see the second and third parts as similar I'll just name some people and why they might be geniuses.
Einstein (relativity (both), brownian motion, photoelectric effect, molecules)
Ben Franklin (Post office, street lighting, garbage removal, electricity, math problems, the gulf stream, oh yes, and America)
J.S. Mill (Political/Philosophy, latin and greek by age 5 or 6, brilliant, knew a lot about a lot. Someone gave him the compliment that when he died it was the last time one person knew everything)
Da Vinci (you know, art stuff :P and all the inventions)
Michelangelo (the turtle. Great nunchaku)
Gutenberg (printing press and how that changed the world)
Shakespeare (if it was one guy)
Bacon (if he was shakespeare)
Newton (how could I forget! calculus and in the world of another: Newton, after all, unified heaven and earth (with his laws of motion)
Bertrand Russel might be one (philosopher and mathematician).
As for people who are living who I think are brilliant: Dennett, Hofstadter, Chomsky.
There is another way to look at the question, in terms of capability in a small area, such as savants and some of the abilities they have whether autistic or not.
Lastly, Marilyn vos Savant is thought to have the highest IQ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_vos_Savant)
But some don't think her too smart: http://www.wiskit.com/marilyn.html
Hope that was enough :P
Thanks Darren, very useful stuff!
The definition they chose to use in the book was four-fold. According to them genius requires (1) Obsession (often to the point where the genius ignores chores and family members, (2) Vision, (3) stands "The test of time" (the genius' genius continues to be recognized years/centuries later), and (4) Inspiration (the genius inspires others).
Indeed, you choose a bunch I hadn't thought of: J. S. Mill,
Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Bertrand Russel, Bacon, Dennett, Hofstadter, Chomsky.
And I had: Darwin, Galileo, Jesus/Buddha & other prophets (if real people), Greek Philosophers (Aristotle, Plato, Socrates), Ghandi(?), Stephen Hawking, and Hitler (evil genius).
I think everyone chooses Einstein, afterall, his name is synonymous with genius.
About IQ: the opinion is that you can have high IQ without being a genius (the same way you can have a great engine without having a good car). I guess appropriate personality and motivation are required to push high IQ to genius.
Thanks again!
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