Virtually all of the greatest mathematicians and physical scientists have entered the world of research wondering whether they will be able to publish groundbreaking research. Those who achieve at the highest levels are usually aware that they are more intelligent than most of the people around them and that emboldens them to venture into areas of research where others fear to tread. In fact, a certain amount of intellectual arrogance is helpful in overruling the natural doubt that constrains most young people embarking on research.
Albert Einstein was somewhat cocky in his undergraduate years and showed his disdain for professors he did not respect. He addressed his professor Weber as “Herr Weber” instead of the more proper address, “Herr Professor.” This disrespect had negative results when he was searching for a research job, but his “arrogance” and confidence in his intelligence, prompted him to challenge the assumption that time is absolute–something that the established professors were reluctant to address.
Many other scientists, buoyed by the belief in their intelligence, assumed that their intellectual advantage would yield creative groundbreaking results. Yet, they were always living with some self-doubt. Mathematician Kurt Gödel, worried that someone might find a flaw in the proof of his Incompleteness Theorem and Andrew Wiles had to repair his first proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem. When students verified Einstein’s equations through experiments, the old man shook his head in wonderment stating, “Ist das wirlich so?” (“Is that really true?”). Einstein was always aware that his theories might be flawed.
The creativity of a scientist is measured by the originality of their research, so no one knows his or her level of creativity until they publish their research and it is deemed to be valid. However, a person who is highly intelligent, has a passionate commitment to their topic of investigation, and is able to push past self-doubt is well-positioned to produce ground-breaking research and prove their innate creativity. It boils down to high intelligence powered by self-efficacy and unrelenting effort.
