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Genius can’t be taught

28 points| ccantana | 7 years ago |stewfortier.com

12 comments

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MathematicalArt|7 years ago

What is genius? Genius is characterized by highly divergent thought, especially as compared with conventional wisdom. From this base notion of divergence, you actually get either genius or insanity.

Genius is characterized by divergent thought that feeds back with the external environment (society, historic events, etc.)

Insanity is characterized by this same divergent thought with the feedback being self-referential only. Thus it isn’t grounded in any way that society recognizes.

With that, neither genius nor insanity requires anything other than a highly divergent thought process marked by a level of attachment or detachment to society.

ggm|7 years ago

I know, they're bloody insufferable and impossible to teach. Best, is let them get demotivated and turn to drugs and crime: then we get evil geniuses who can't learn.

karmakaze|7 years ago

Teaching however can supress genius.

pontifier|7 years ago

Many things can suppress genius. It's not actually a very reliable trait.

It occurs in most of us, though for far shorter than it should. If flashes of genius are rewarded they can grow, but mostly, harsh reality stifles the optimistic hope at it's root.