NationStates Jolt Archive

...and I seem to have been missed out :mad:

1= Albert Hofmann (Swiss) chemist (genius factor 27)
1= Tim Berners-Lee (British) computer scientist (27)
3 George Soros (American) investor and philanthropist (25)
4 Matt Groening (American) satirist and animator (24)
5= Nelson Mandela (South African) politician and diplomat (23)
5= Frederick Sanger (British) chemist (23)
7= Dario Fo (Italian) writer & dramatist (22)
7= Stephen Hawking (British) physicist (22)
9= Oscar Niemeyer (Brazilian) architect (21)
9= Philip Glass (American) composer (21)
9= Grigory Perelman (Russian) mathematician (21)

Link (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2201016,00.html)

Some interesting ones in the extended top 100 - Osama Bin Laden comes in at 43, which I'm fairly easy with to be honest. Check out Matt Groening at No. 4!

Note that this is conducted in the UK, hence 23 British entrants in the top 100 but who's really missing, either in the top 10 or simply should be up there among us gods of intelligence.

What the hell is genius anyway? Is a one-off flash of inspiration worth as much as a lifetimes' toiling away, is art more important that science?

All these and more for you geniuses out there to answer.

Hey hey! Look at Groening beating out Hawkins by 3 spots!

I was more interested in the article about the NFL game played in London. Good article.

Hey hey! Look at Groening beating out Hawkins by 3 spots!

That pretty much discredits it IMO. If Groening was a genius the Simpsons wouldn't still be on air.

Shit list IMO. A cartoonist coming fourth? Rubbish.

Shit list IMO. A cartoonist coming fourth? Rubbish.

Given the criteria, and remembering this was conducted in the UK...

It used a scoring system to assess contenders on how much their contribution had turned conventional thinking on its head, the popular acclaim they received, their intellectual power, their achievements and their cultural importance.

...I'd first say that humour, in my book, is a strong indicator of intelligence as well as the fact that he's had huge cultural impact and success then, well maybe not 4th, but certainly up there.

Hence, what makes a genius? I'd say it takes all sorts and shouldn't simply be limited to intellectual power.

Hence, what makes a genius?
No idea. I do know, however, what doesn't make a genius - and that's several generations of slow-learners breeding. Then you just end up with the audience of Jerry Springer shows.

Shit list IMO. A cartoonist coming fourth? Rubbish.

Exactly. Of the Simpsons and Futurama aswell...

Matt Groening gets 4th greatest genius. But there's no mention anywhere of Will Wright or Shigeru Miyamoto (who don't necessarily deserve to be on the list... just above Groening). Article fails.

turning conventional thinking on its head,
popular acclaim
intellectual power
achievements
cultural importance.

My suggestions kick Matt Groening's arse at 1 and 4. Probably 2 and 5 too depending on how you define those criteria.

Geniuses are a dime a damn dozen.

Hell, I'm a genius...you know what I do for a living?

I deliver pizzas.

I deliver pizzas and play guitar...

WOOT FOR STEREOTYPES!!

Look people, any more of this and I'm taking Matt Groening out completely - I hope you'll all be happy then you whiny, elitist popular-cartoon haterz!

Dammit :mad:

:) (I'm being mock-angry btw, before I'm reported for flaming)

People in history that we view as geniuses were people who were versed in many skills, masters of multiple disciplines. Rather than just an admirable intelligent person, I like the conception of ‘genius’ as someone who connected the dots; someone who drew together knowledge from a range of disciplines and created a working system of thought.

Today, particularly in academia, knowledge is so specialised that the above conception of genius is very difficult to attain. There are a great many intelligent and influential people, but are there many true geniuses?

The OP’s lists is more a list of movers and shakers in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, rather than genius IMO. Intelligent, influential people and the discoverer of LSD-25.

People in history that we view as geniuses were people who were versed in many skills, masters of multiple disciplines. Rather than just an admirable intelligent person, I like the conception of ‘genius’ as someone who connected the dots; someone who drew together knowledge from a range of disciplines and created a working system of thought.

Today, particularly in academia, knowledge is so specialised that the above conception of genius is very difficult to attain. There are a great many intelligent and influential people, but are there many true geniuses?

The OP’s lists is more a list of movers and shakers in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, rather than genius IMO. Intelligent, influential people and the discoverer of LSD-25.

To some extent I agree and this is an aspect of making it a popular vote. From what I understand, they asked 4, 000 people to list 10 geniuses and received about 400 names, which they whittled down to 100 and made a top 10.

Geniuses are a dime a damn dozen.

Hell, I'm a genius...you know what I do for a living?

I deliver pizzas.

I deliver pizzas and play guitar...

WOOT FOR STEREOTYPES!!

I'm a genius. I have a cupcake in my pants. :)

To some extent I agree and this is an aspect of making it a popular vote. From what I understand, they asked 4, 000 people to list 10 geniuses and received about 400 names, which they whittled down to 100 and made a top 10.
Most people’s conception of a ‘genius’ is a person who cam up with an idea that they like, or a piece of art they admire.

No females in the top 10?

No females in the top 10?

Hah! Female geniuses. Don't be silly. :p

*covers crotch*

Other names in the top 100, of whom only 15 are women

Not a lot, more reflective of popular opinion than fact.

EDIT: Damn you LG for jumping in there and making a mockery of my post.

This quoted text is from the article and this is in response to Voodoo Hoodoo.

Most people’s conception of a ‘genius’ is a person who cam up with an idea that they like, or a piece of art they admire.

My personal concept would be someone who made a breakthrough of some kind within their field, one that has left a lasting impression or influenced that field significantly.

Not a lot, more reflective of popular opinion than fact.

EDIT: Damn you LG for jumping in there and making a mockery of my post.

This quoted text is from the article and this is in response to Voodoo Hoodoo.

*scampers around, knocking over furniture and then bolts*

My personal concept would be someone who made a breakthrough of some kind within their field, one that has left a lasting impression or influenced that field significantly.

I maintain that Will Wright and Shigeru Miyamoto are geniuses. Maybe not up to that calibre, but geniuses nonetheless.

*scampers around, knocking over furniture and then bolts*

This reminds me of a genius headline in The Sun concerning a lunatic who escaped from his asylum, raped a launderette and ran away.

"Nut screws washer and bolts"

This reminds me of a genius headline in The Sun concerning a lunatic who escaped from his asylum, raped a launderette and ran away.

"Nut screws washer and bolts"

Yay! :)