The concept of genius has evolved throughout history from "summary" of Genius by James Gleick
The notion of genius is not fixed; it shifts and mutates over time. In ancient Rome, the term "genius" referred not to individual brilliance but to a kind of protective spirit that accompanied a person from birth to death. This conception of genius was tied to the idea of personal destiny, an unseen force guiding a person through life. During the Renaissance, genius took on a new meaning as humanists looked to classical sources for inspiration. Artists and thinkers were praised for their creative abilities, seen as possessing a spark of divine inspiration that set them apart from mere mortals. In the Enlightenment, the concept of genius became more closely tied to intelligence and originality. Figures like Isaac Newton and Immanuel Kant were hailed as geniuses for their groundbreaking ideas and contributions to science and philosophy. Genius was seen as a rare gift, a quality that only a select few possessed. By the 19th century, the Romantic movement challenged this elitist view of genius. Romantics celebrated the creative spi...
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