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Why are they always so eccentric? Are there normal geniuses or is that just how it works out?
by lawrenceyan 4y ago
Why are they always so eccentric? Are there normal geniuses or is that just how it works out?
- userbinator 4y agoI'm inclined to believe that old saying about genius and insanity. Coincidentally, just above this article right now is a modern example: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33288706 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33288706
- lawrenceyan 4y agoI do think the brain is probably at some (or very close to) theoretical optimum. Though I’m of the mind that we generally underestimate the potential of the average person and overestimate that of the genius archetype.
- TeMPOraL 4y ago> I do think the brain is probably at some (or very close to) theoretical optimum. I've read this is called Algernon Hypothesis / Algernon Argument; 'Gwern has a lot of notes on this here[0], particularly in context of intelligence-enhancing interventions, but it makes sense for the argument to hold with respect to natural-born geniuses. ---- [0] - https://www.gwern.net/Drug-heuristics#algernon-argument https://www.gwern.net/Drug-heuristics#algernon-argument
- whacked_new 4y agoPerhaps John Bardeen, to date the only person to receive 2 Nobel Prizes in physics, could be considered a "normal" genius? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bardeen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bardeen
- karmakurtisaani 4y agoTons of "normal" geniuses out there. You just don't hear about them because they don't get the press.