Let’s look at the etymology (origin) of the word genius.

Late 14c., “tutelary or moral spirit” who guides and governs an individual through life, from Latin genius “guardian deity or spirit which watches over each person from birth; spirit, incarnation; wit, talent;” also “prophetic skill; the male spirit of a gens,” originally “generative power” (or “inborn nature”),The main characteristic of genius is lateral thinking. Looking at an issue from many angles, often seemingly unrelated angles, that would rarely, if ever, occur to non-geniuses. Genius mind always asks, always questions and is a nightmare for dogmas, religions and cults, becauses geniuses – even if they wanted to be fervent believers in some ideology – are extremely unlikely to fully believe in any religion or ideology. Why? Their mind is always going to question, always going to find holes in arguments and reasoning.

A recent TV show, ”The Institute,” based on Stephen King’s novel, features a 14-year-old teenager who is abducted and taken to the Mengelesque institution for gifted children with psychic powers. One of the first things the teen does is unload a barrage of questions at a woman-in-charge. This has never happened before, she tells him, not to that extent. That’s exactly what a genius would do. Question, analyze,........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)