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| Infinitism |
 Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:58 am Post subject: What Makes a Genius? |
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| This is a very simple question with a complicated answer; what makes someone a genius? |
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| free radical |
| Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:10 am Post subject: |
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Forum Masters Degree
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| Loads of really dumb people. |
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| miomaz |
| Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Selene |
| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:31 am Post subject: |
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Wikipedia...oooh what's that?
How clever are you?
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| zinjanthropos |
| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:24 am Post subject: Re: What Makes a Genius? |
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| Infinitism wrote: |
| This is a very simple question with a complicated answer; what makes someone a genius? |
A good memory is a start. However I think there's a difference between someone who can memorize what's known and a person who can add to it or apply it. Genius is not limited to the arts and sciences.
Remember the movie 'Rain Man". An idiot savant memorizes an entire phonebook. Can you classify such a person as genius?
I doubt very much if you'll find a genius in some mundane, backbreaking job. I can't envision Einstein herding sheep or digging a ditch.
I guess if you have to ask then genius status will be withheld from you. |
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| Skiyk |
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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Being viewed as intelligent by others and being categorized into our man made realm of "smart".
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| Pendragon |
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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Perhaps an evolutionary way to phrase the question is: why does it benefit groups / species to have extremes of intelligence? A lot of traits tend to average out (the extremes are continuously shaved off - selected away - unless they someday become useful). Extremely small or large feet sure wouldn't give much advantage. If intelligence would average out like so many genetic traits then we wouldn't have geniuses, everyone would be somewhat equal.
Maybe higher organisms with a level of group organization benefit from having extremes of intelligence coexist within a population. It gives rise to a division of labour, which increases productivity of the group as a whole. We need our Alphas, Betas.. and Epsilons (see Brave New World), the fact that we differ in intelligence makes it much easier to divide tasks within groups in an efficient way.
So maybe that's why we have geniuses, it's useful to have some but we can't all be like that  |
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| Skiyk |
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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It's also probably the way you were brought up.
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A biophysicist talks physics to the biologists and biology to the physicists, but then he meets another biophysicist, they just discuss women.
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| Selene |
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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Genius's tend to be people who are free from convention and find their own ways of thinking and doing.
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| Skiyk |
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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True! 
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A biophysicist talks physics to the biologists and biology to the physicists, but then he meets another biophysicist, they just discuss women.
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| Ophiolite |
| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:54 am Post subject: |
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| free radical wrote: |
| Loads of really dumb people. |
A perfect answer. Statistically accurate and humourous also. 
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| h2so4hurts |
| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:00 am Post subject: |
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The answer is always genes and environment 
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| Skiyk |
| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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Not always. There are other factors such as environment and parenting.
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A biophysicist talks physics to the biologists and biology to the physicists, but then he meets another biophysicist, they just discuss women.
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| alit00 |
| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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| There are different levels of intelligence. One can be a genius in one area and lack common sense in another. A person who uses the Right brain more frequently is giften in logic, science, practical, whereas one who uses the Left brain tends to be gifted in using imagination, understanding philosophical concepts and has better spacial perception. |
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| NeptuneCircle |
| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:34 am Post subject: |
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Well, the first question that arises is intelligence? For me, I prefer the Triarchic theory of intelligence which states that there are three types of intelligence: Analytical, Creative, and Practical. Analytical intelligence is intellgience that involves problem solving, decision making, and obtaining new information. Practical intelligent is the ability to adapt to our environment.
I think that anyone of these types of intelligents is valued by society. One that is analytical and creative can become a great scientist and engineer. One that is creative can be a great artist,writer, or musician. One that has practical intelligence would make a great politician. These types of people might be considered "geniuses" by our definition.
One question that I wonder though, is that how much drugs can effect intelligent. It is knwn that JRR Tolkein and some of the greatest musicians do so while under Hallucinogens. |
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