Think of it as a form of perfectionism.
I did this a little when I was 11, just mainstreamed back from a GT school. It seemed like the explanation for the whole universe was on the tip of my tongue and I couldn't quite grasp it, like if I just meditated a bit everything would come clear. Actually learning stuff honestly wasn't challenging enough to be interesting at the time- it was more fun to grope for the answer and see how close I could come.
While this attitude was less destructive than the usual perfectionism, it was really unhealthy. I realized this myself and (mostly) cut it out after a couple of years. I don't think my parents ever caught on to what I was doing.
I think you're right to be concerned. If just finding appropriately challenging work isn't working because he wants to gestalt it all, maybe it would help to put him in a situation where he isn't top dog and has to work to keep up with kids his own age - like one of the summer camps I've read about.
