Geniuses, like great comedians, have a way of seeing things from an entirely different perspective from the rest of us. A comedian might say, “Herman was not bankrupt, he just had too much life left over at the end of his money.” In a similar way, geniuses typically upend general consensus by seeing through a lens that is not available to most people.
During his travels, Charles Darwin observed small variations in the species of birds located on different islands in the Galápagos. At a time when almost everyone believed that all species were relatively unchanged in successive generations, Darwin announced his Fundamental Principle of Evolution: All living things have their origin in other preexisting types (ancestors) and the distinguishable differences result from modifications in successive generations.
Later he announced his theory of evolution and his principle of survival of the fittest, with the implication that humans were descended from a common ancestor of the ape and other primates. This insight was a spark of genius that ignited a vitriolic controversy that threatened theological doctrine. It took decades for the rest of the world to embrace Darwin’s perspective. In his comments below, Satvik Beri shares his observations of how geniuses think and behave. See: Satvik Beri’s answer to What patterns can be observed in the way geniuses think and behave? Have you ever been shocked/surprised/blown away by the reasoning or behavior of someone you consider an outstandingly smart individual?
