Genius Requires Just the Right Mix

An anonymous reader writes "LiveScience has an interesting piece taking a look at how genius is rarely developed in a vacuum. From the article: 'The reality is that behind many scientific geniuses, there is at least one other genius, and often a number of them.' It takes much more than a genius pal or predecessor, however, to do great science, according to Simmons. Scientific advances emerge from social, economic and political conditions."

Comments

Explaining why Dyson's such a twat.

[Orrin Bloquy]

Freeman must be spinning in his grave.

That Was Interesting & Relevant

[Anonymous Coward]

Not!

Re:Surrounding yourself with talent

[DavidHOzAu]

They enjoy being challenged by peers.
No, I enjoy squashing them. As if a genius can have a "peer". True genius has no equal, and quite simply cannot have peers. In other words, true geniuses don't need to be around other people to convince themselves that they are "smart": they KNOW that they are smart.

I'm beginning to believe that "genius" is just a frame of mind.
No it isn't; If it were true then intellectually challenged people could be called geniuses. To a large degree it depends on how quickly and easily our minds can wrap around seemingly-complex problems... like the fact that the universe revolves around ME! (I bet you'll find that one hard to swallow. ;-)

Something's not right here.

[Ethan Allison]

When I was 7 or 8, I got an IQ test. I had an IQ of around 140. As far as I know, I still do - I sure don't feel smarter 7 or so years later, and I get the same standardized-test percentiles every year. I haven't gotten smarter - I've just learned more.

So maybe genius is applying your natural intelligence to your experiential knowledge?

Re:Surrounding yourself with talent

[CyricZ]

Why do you let such comments from such people bother you? If somebody says something like that to you, just stick your tongue out at them. If you're really bold, wiggle your cock in their general direction. Such calm protest will often infuriate the type of people who publically insult others. Your best attack against them would be to make it appear that you don't care what they think.