Have you seen the May 2017 issue of National Geographic magazine? The cover story discusses
What Makes a Genius? A few snippets follow:
We don’t know exactly why these people soar above the rest of us, but science offers us clues.
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The truest measure of genius is whether a person’s work resonates through the ages
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we can try to understand [genius] by unraveling the complex and tangled qualities—intelligence, creativity, perseverance, and simple good fortune, to name a few—that entwine to create a person capable of changing the world
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monumental intelligence on its own is no guarantee of monumental achievement, as Terman and his collaborators would discover
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[genius may be] a societal judgement that elevates a chosen few while overlooking others
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nurture imagination in everyone
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Prodigious productivity is a defining characteristic of genius
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One sign of creativity is being able to make connections between seemingly disparate concepts. Richer communication between areas of the brain may help make those intuitive leaps possible
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Natural gifts and a nurturing environment can still fall short of producing a genius, without motivation and tenacity propelling one forward
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Lack of support can stunt prospects for potential geniuses; they never get the chance to be productive
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“what an incredible tragedy that thousands of geniuses or potential geniuses have withered and died”
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exemplary powers of perception
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The article considers genius from a variety of perspectives, and contains great photos including the apple tree that sparked Newton's law of gravity in 1666, still standing more than 350 years later.
The social network maps of Newton and Michelangelo show idols, rivals, & admirers, with fewer mentors, collaborators, friends.
In discussing IQ scores, MRIs showing active areas of the brain, and DNA, one cannot help but wonder whether IQ tests may one day be replaced with other means of measuring intelligence and/or potential.
The online version of the article links to other related articles and also the opportunity to purchase the National Geographic DNA kit and participate in their Genographic Project, including Historical Genius Matches.
