What is genius? Genius is characterized by highly divergent thought, especially as compared with conventional wisdom. From this base notion of divergence, you actually get either genius or insanity.<p>Genius is characterized by divergent thought that feeds back with the external environment (society, historic events, etc.)<p>Insanity is characterized by this same divergent thought with the feedback being self-referential only. Thus it isn’t grounded in any way that society recognizes.<p>With that, neither genius nor insanity requires anything other than a highly divergent thought process marked by a level of attachment or detachment to society.
I know, they're bloody insufferable and impossible to teach. Best, is let them get demotivated and turn to drugs and crime: then we get <i>evil</i> geniuses who can't learn.