We judge genius, not by IQ, but by the scope and originality of their accomplishments. My favorite quote defining genius comes from Arthur Schopenhauer:
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see.
As Schopenhauer observed, genius is not about perfecting a skill and bringing it to the highest level, or refining a theory to extend its reach. It’s more about transformative discoveries that change our understanding in a profound way. When Einstein challenged Newton’s concept of absolute time, he revolutionized physics and opened new vistas, including the equivalence of mass and energy. When von Neumann conceived the idea of hard-wiring an internal logic system into a computer, he laid the groundwork for the design of the modern computer. And when Gödel constructed his proof that the consistency and completeness of a system of logic as complex as arithmetic cannot be known simultaneously, he transformed our understanding of the power and limitations of logical reasoning–concepts vital to AI.
Many of these contributions from geniuses correspond to inflection points in the quality of our lives. Tesla brought us the A/C power grid, lighting our homes and powering our appliances. Einstein’s relativity brought us nuclear power–a renewable energy resource. And von Neumann’s vision of the computer has become the host of artificial intelligence that is revolutionizing our entire industrial complex, providing a virtually infinite information base and revising the concept of employment. This is merely a sample of the “golden eggs” to which Ogilvy referred. (see the Introduction)
As we stand in awe of these remarkable insights, we are prompted to explore the personalities of modern geniuses–their beliefs, eccentricities and emotional stability. As I am currently doing research for a book on the nature of genius, I am discovering a lot of interesting similarities among them, as well as some distinct differences. Many of them had what most people would call “low emotional intelligence,” because they lived in a different mental space and couldn’t self-reference to understand how most people think. As young children they were ostracized by their classmates, because they were recognized as different. They sought comfort in isolation and in exploring on their own, until later in adolescence, they discovered other brilliant people with whom they could connect. But most had difficulty in establishing intimate relationships, partly because they derived most of their pleasure from those special Eureka moments that accompany major intellectual discoveries. Social connections offered them less. Of course there were exceptions–there were a few that were almost extraverts.
As for common sense, most of them didn’t perceive the world the way most people do, and they would challenge the beliefs that most people would call “common sense.” In many cases they would be correct in my judgment, but then we live in a very complex world of many divergent opinions. However, we are all in their debt for the wonderful technologies, artistic works and insights they have given us–often at their own personal expense.
