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Genius Requires Just the Right Mix

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the baking-genius-pie dept.

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."

9 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. Surrounding yourself with talent by lukewarmfusion · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Really brilliant people (not just scientifically, but in any discipline or industry) surround themselves with other brilliant people. They enjoy being challenged by peers. They are secure in their abilities and know that other brilliant people will not threaten their place but help to elevate it.

    I am finding, early in my business career, that working with other talented people makes me work harder and aspire to greater things. The constant challenges put a perspective on the obstacles I used to face - ones I now overcome easily.

    I'm beginning to believe that "genius" is just a frame of mind.

    1. Re:Surrounding yourself with talent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      So now I have an excuse. I am not motivated because I am surronded by idiots!

    2. Re:Surrounding yourself with talent by catmistake · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Really brilliant people (not just scientifically, but in any discipline or industry) surround themselves with other brilliant people.

      Actually... this is sort of a subset of another truth: you become the people with which you associate.

      If you hang out with a bunch of drug abusing low-lifes, guess what? That's either what you are or what you are becoming. If you hang out with a bunch of very smart, technically oriented, socially inadept individuals, chances are you are a nerd.

      Ironically, its not that you gravitate towards those of similar interest and mental capacities, necessarily, but more that circumstance has thrown you together with those that often times you must socially break free from (in order to find a more pregressive group) to advance yourself.

      --
      The Admin and the Engineer
    3. Re:Surrounding yourself with talent by Rick+and+Roll · · Score: 5, Funny

      I prefer "It's hard to fly like an eagle when you're surrounded by a bunch of fucktards."

    4. Re:Surrounding yourself with talent by linzeal · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It is not about bragging, it is not being afraid of being better than people around you, who at all levels of acadamia still have a little smugness towards brilliant people. I have seen it at r&d in OSU, caltech and ASU. If you are ahead of the curve in any field you will have people that will justify being an ass to you because they feel threatened or sidelined. Some people work their whole life for one Nature or Science article, some have dozens by the age of 40.

      --
      An Education is the Font of All Liberty
  2. Stupidity, too! by strobexii · · Score: 5, Funny

    Browse /. at -1 and notice how stupidity doesn't develop in a vacuum either. Behind every "-1 Offtopic" comment, there are dozens of other equally irrelevant, nonsensical rants. One "Stephen King is Dead" post always leads to more, and penis bird lives on.

  3. I haven't even begun! by sarge+apone · · Score: 5, Funny

    Vizzini: I can't compete with you physically, and you're no match for my brains.
    Westley: You're that smart?
    Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
    Westley: Yes.
    Vizzini: Morons.

    --
    Best Free Utilities for Windows
  4. Dilbert by Ctrl+Alt+De1337 · · Score: 5, Funny

    PHB: A good manager is someone who hires people who are smarter than he is.

    Wally: So... your boss is dumber than you?

    Alice: And you boss's boss is dumber yet?

    Dilbert: According to your theory, our CEO is the dumbest person in the company.

    Wally: Unless all of you are bad managers.

    Asok: Truly we are doomed either way.

    PHB: This concludes the motivational part of the meeting.

    Wally: I'd give you a high five but I don't like to move.

  5. Agree by UndyingShadow · · Score: 5, Insightful

    One of biggest problems a "genius thinker" often faces is his own intelligence. He is on a much higher level and being surrounded by "normal people" often leaves him unchallenged, he doesn't have to work at anything, and then his discontent could squash the ideas right out of him. But as soon as you put him in a room with another on his level, he will quickly find himself challenged, and will respond with genius, as will his counterpart, leading to truly amazing things. As a general rule, I've found that people don't excel unless they have a reason to. 99% of the time, its competition