I find it interesting that you state your definition as if it were the only one in your introduction pages.
Wouldn't it make more sense if you were to say something like:
"Genius, for our purposes is..."
This would reflect the reality (as reality seems to be your focus) that genius does, indeed have other definitions.
Just curious why you seem to present your definition as the only legitimate one when, clearly, there are others?
Curiosity on definition of "genius"
- David Quinn
- Posts: 5708
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2001 6:56 am
- Location: Australia
- Contact:
To emphasize the point that the world normally labels "genius" is, at best, just a mild echo of true genius.
It's a bit like an explorer who has sailed across the Pacific Ocean and encounters a tribe who proudly imagines that their local lake is the biggest body of water in the world - and, more importantly, who cannot even imagine that a body of water can possibly be any bigger. The explorer immediately sees that these people's sights and their expectations are set far too low.
What the world normally call genius isn't really genius at all, but simply extraodinary talent - although, as I alluded to above, the more highly intellgent "geniuses", such as Darwin and Einstein, did seem to have, with their core understanding of the world, a diluted, largely unconscious, connection to true genius.
At root, I consider it important to rescue the term "genius" from the claws of the ignorant masses and highlight what it stands for in its purest sense. It's an effective way of raising people's awareness to the very highest thing in life - namely, Truth.
-
It's a bit like an explorer who has sailed across the Pacific Ocean and encounters a tribe who proudly imagines that their local lake is the biggest body of water in the world - and, more importantly, who cannot even imagine that a body of water can possibly be any bigger. The explorer immediately sees that these people's sights and their expectations are set far too low.
What the world normally call genius isn't really genius at all, but simply extraodinary talent - although, as I alluded to above, the more highly intellgent "geniuses", such as Darwin and Einstein, did seem to have, with their core understanding of the world, a diluted, largely unconscious, connection to true genius.
At root, I consider it important to rescue the term "genius" from the claws of the ignorant masses and highlight what it stands for in its purest sense. It's an effective way of raising people's awareness to the very highest thing in life - namely, Truth.
-
- Dan Rowden
- Posts: 5740
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2001 8:03 pm
- Contact:
No, we're trying to purify the usage. It's much the same thing with the word "philosophy". The common usage of that word is a travesty as far as I'm concerned. Used car salesmen are said to have a sales "philosophy". It's ugly.
But, at bottom, "genius" is just a label. What it points to is the thing that matters. Use a different word if you prefer, like "enlightenment" or "wisdom" or whatever floats your boat....
Dan Rowden
But, at bottom, "genius" is just a label. What it points to is the thing that matters. Use a different word if you prefer, like "enlightenment" or "wisdom" or whatever floats your boat....
Dan Rowden