The word genius can be used to describe a person, an idea or an invention. As a person, a genius is one that stands out from a crowd and tackles the most difficult of problems in the simplest of ways. A genius is not only very clever, but instinct allows them to think outside the box. The term genius is often associated with names such as Albert Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci, JS Bach, William Blake, and Socrates. These are just a few of history’s greatest thinkers who helped shape society with their innovative ideas. The universal definition of a “genius” is “one who has an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work in science, art, music, etc.’ Genius is also defined as ‘a person having an extraordinarily high intelligence rating on a psychological test, as an IQ (Intelligence Quotient) above 140” (Dictionary.Com Pars. 1, 2).
We know who throughout history has been considered a genius, and the commonly accepted definition of the word. But what qualities combine to create a genius? A true genius incorporates three general aspects: a natural curiosity; originality, alongside creativity; and finally, a remarkable ability to learn, think, and understand quickly. It is important to remember that, in some cases, all three aspects can exist without a high- intelligence score. The truth is that there are countless different types of geniuses. As with any term that describes a personality, not all geniuses will fit the mold carved out by any single definition. A genius with an IQ of 160 may be able to do math faster than a calculator, but cannot learn to tie their shoes. Another genius may be able to paint incredible pieces of art, but is unable to read. Geniuses, however, ar...
... middle of paper ...
...o quickly learn, think, and understand. Whatever others may say about geniuses, the fact remains that these people are special. While we may never be able to explain the fundamental concept of genius, we can understand that they are essential to advancements of human progress – regardless if they specialize in the field of technology, art, science, sports, music, mathematics, literature or just general understanding.
Works Cited
Armstrong, Thomas. "Your Genius." Web log post. The Nellen Family Jewels. 31 Jan. 2007. Web. 05 Apr. 2011. Par. 2
"Genius | Define Genius at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Free Online Dictionary for English Definitions. Random House, Inc. Web. 05 Apr. 2011. Pars. 1. 2
Simonton, Dean Keith. "Personality and Individual Differences." Scientific Genius: A Psychology of Science. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire: Cambridge UP, 1988. 48. Print.
Geniuses like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison were not only smart, but they also devised new theories, solved mathematical mysteries, and pioneered new gadgets.
Howard Gardner used to define intelligence as “the ability to solve problems or to create products that are valued within one or more cultural settings” (Gardner 33). The modern day human being would most likely include the words “smart” and “dumb” in their definition of intelligence. Gardner questioned the belief of only one intelligence so he created his own theory that involved seven different discoveries. He didn’t want to call these discoveries “skills” or “talents” or gifts” because those all suggested a drawback so he decided on the word “intelligence,” creating his theory of multiple intelligences (Gardner 33). Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences including, linguistic, logical/mathematical, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, intrapersonal and interpersonal, has many implications for modern education and culture.
His anecdotes presented in the article are appropriate in terms of his subject and claims. The author responds back to the naysayers by saying that people only look at the test scores earned in school, but not the actual talent. He says, “Our culture- in Cartesian fashion- separates the body from the mind, so that, for example we assume that the use of tool does not involve abstraction. We reinforce this notion by defining intelligence solely on grades in school and number on IQ tests. And we employ social biases pertaining to a person’s place on the occupational ladder” (279). The author says that instead of looking at people’s talent we judge them by their grades in school or their IQ score, and we also employ them based on these numbers. People learn more each time they perform a task. He talks about blue collared individuals developing multi-tasking and creativity skills as they perform the task they are asked to
Genius is still a poplar creation myth that is being followed and taught in the current culture of today. The Genius myth begins like this; in the beginning God a spirit who is neither male nor female created the universe. At this time Earth was a void and was formless, covered in total darkness. Earth was also covered in a raging ocean and
Holzman, Philip S. "personality." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. .
In spite of the fact that intelligence quotient tests have been around for decades, many professionals are attempting to determine the factors and causes behind aptitude. Several options exist to explain or disprove the reasons why some attain above average intellect, while others manage varying degrees less. Some of these alternatives, along with arguments in the general and human intelligence topics, will be found inside the following pages of discussion.
Throughout history, psychologists have made hundreds of attempts to define intelligence and measure it precisely. However, none of these attempts have been accepted by all because Intelligence is so broad. Intelligence has been defined by many things, by Weschler, who made the most used psychological test today, as “the global capacity of a person to act purposefully, to think rationally, and to deal effectively with his environment.” However, while he may have created the most successful test, his definition is not the only definition of intelligence, for psychologists such as Gardner, believed that there was more than just knowledge to intelligence, and Sternberg, who defined intelligence as “mental activity directed toward purposive adaptation to, selection and shaping of, real-world environments relevant to one’s life.” Intelligences has been measured in a variety of ways throughout psychologists, however because intelligence is such a broad concept, there is no single definition and method of testing it.
Since intelligence is usually judged in IQ tests or just tests in school, many individuals are claimed to have average or little intelligence. They struggle in school, trying to learn math, English, reading; but they may excel in other places like sports, music, or relationships. This is where Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences comes into play. He proposed that there are eight forms of intelligence, possibly more. The two that are seen in school often are Logical-Mathematical and Linguistic-Verbal. The people who excel at these are seen as geniuses and are thought to do very well in life. The others that don’t do well in those two may be better at one of the other six.
Schultz, D. P., & Schultz, S. E. (2013). Theories of personality (10th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage/Wadsworth.
First, re: Keats: his letter addresses something that I've been wondering about "genius." I'm reminded of this popular quotation from Ulysses: "A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery." If Genius (I love that it's capitalized) is some sort of spectral or seraphic presence independent of mind, then it seems to visit or attach itself to only a few people every generation. Why is it so selective? This is a superstitious explanation for "genius," of course, and we know statistically that genius IQs really are rare. But I've been seeing this wonderful psychyoga instructor who is also a clairvoyant, and she insists that "everyone has genius inside them." This could be New Age, kumbaya claptrap, but I think she's right; therefore, Joyce (perhaps unwittingly) is talking about everyone (my professor used to say, "Love your mistakes!" at the end of every class). But how do people access genius so quickly (precocity/child prodigies) and so easily (the daily, random assemblage of great poems)?
work of a genius and the work of what he terms "a man of brains." (page
Magnavita, J. J. (2002). Theories of personality: Contemporary approaches to the science of personality. New York: Wiley.
Gardner’s theory of MI offers an alternative view of intelligence which has measured intelligence based on the results that would predict success in the current educational system. Furham (2009) sums up Gardner’s definition as “the ability to solve problems or to create products that are valued within one or more cultural settings”. This definition suggests that human intelligence is comprised of more than the predictable success in a western school system. Gardner argues that traditional definitions of intelligence and intelligence testing are too narrow and marginalize people who do not fit traditional education system that focuses on visual–spatial, verbal–linguistic, and logical–mathematical intelligences. He supports this with unique cases of idiots savant, who are people with low IQs but excel in skills in areas not measured through tradition IQ tests (Arnett, 2013). MI theory proposes that individual’s intelligence can be differentiated on eight different modalities:
Albert Einstein once said, "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction." When discussing Einstein, it is important to realize the struggle he dealt with in terms of having his scientific revelations accepted by others in the field of physics. Einstein's ideas were so remarkably revolutionary that many did not understand the theories being presented. His brilliance remains extremely relevant in the present day. For example, today the word "Einstein" is synonymous with genius. Einstein is influential for his contributions to physics, winning the Nobel Prize, and using his fame to further his social and political views.
Is intelligence a single skill set or a multitude of strengths and abilities? According to Gardner (2008), "An intelligence must also be susceptible to encoding in a symbol system- a culturally contrived system of meaning that captures and conveys important forms of information" (p. 8). The way we as human beings become so successful in our daily lives can be determined in many different ways. People differ in the way their mind works . Many factors influence our capabilities of learning.