The Problematic Mythology of Genius
Well-Informed & Open-Minded · HS
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Show Notes
The word “genius” carries a seductive power—but it may explain far less than we think. Drawing on Helen Lewis’s critique, this episode unpicks the idea of genius not as an innate quality, but as a status granted by society, shaped by fashion, power, and storytelling. In this episode, we explore how the myth evolved from Romantic suffering to pseudo-scientific rankings that once underpinned eugenics, and why familiar tropes still persist today: excusing bad behavior, fetishizing rebellion, and assuming brilliance transfers effortlessly from one domain to another. By shifting attention from people to the work itself, the story challenges how we assign authority—and why mistaking success for wisdom can be both misleading and dangerous.
https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/06/17/donald-trump-elon-musk-and-the-age-of-the-genius