The concept of genius has evolved over time, as reflected in storytelling about exceptional achievements. Historical figures like Paul Morphy and Zerah Colburn illustrate early definitions of genius tied to remarkable talents. Morphy, a chess prodigy, abandoned the game early and had a brief life. Colburn, initially underestimated, showcased impressive mathematical skills but faced a tragic post-childhood life. The term genius has Latin roots, referring to an individual's unique spirit and characteristics, which has shaped the Western understanding of extraordinary ability.
"When Paul Morphy plays seven games of chess at once and blindfold, when young Colburn gives impromptu solution to a mathematical problem involving fifty-six figures, we are struck with hopeless wonder," J. Brownlee Brown wrote in 1864.
Brown's two geniuses are largely forgotten today. Morphy was a chess wizard from New Orleans who grew tired of the game and gave up playing seriously at just 22.
While researching my new book, The Genius Myth, I spent a lot of time exploring how we tell stories of exceptional achievement, and what the changing definition of genius reveals about the history of Western thought.
The word itself comes from Latin, where it was used to mean a person's spirit—the inner essence that gave them their unique characteristics.
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