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> I'd add that a genius like Einstein would have thought of fantastic things wherever he was – it just so happened that this was the experience he was exposed t
by edmundsauto 7y ago
> I'd add that a genius like Einstein would have thought of fantastic things wherever he was – it just so happened that this was the experience he was exposed to which led him to think about time and light, per your story.
I don't think this is true. Because of survivor bias, we have no idea how many Einsteins never had the opportunity. It seems likely there have been a million people with similar cognitive capabilities, yet very few make such progress.
- numtel 7y agoCredit to Stephen Jay Gould for this
- edmundsauto 7y agoCan you say a little more about SJG? I've heard the name and been meaning to read something of his, but never got around to it. Would appreciate a good rec!
- airstrike 7y ago> It seems likely there have been a million people with similar cognitive capabilities That not a valid counterpoint to my claim in that itdoesn't negate the fact that he could have been a genius in many other fields if he had touched them and assuming he "had the opportunity". Similar to how someone who's highly athletic is usually great in pretty much every sport across the board at a young age and then later specialize into one (or more!) to get to a professional level.