Martin, Do you know anyone who thinks the word "genius" has a
precise meaning? Doesn't it simply mean that in the estimation of
the speaker the person called a "genius" has distinguished himself
in some intellectual or creative fashion? People are not always
going to agree, of course. But in some cases there is probably
unanimity. Was Einstein a "genius"? According to your Zeitgeist,
was Einstein a genius? How about Newton? Da Vinci? Pasteur?
There is a very long list. If a person is called a genius by
someone whom we respect as a thinker, we probably want to know more
about him. He must have done something very remarkable if so-and-so
calls him or her a genius. (Incidentally, not many women are called
geniuses. The only one I can think of might be Madam Curie. Maybe
the woman who worked with Watson and Crick on the DNA discovery.)
But it is my impression that when people get serious about bestowing
the superlative of "genius" on someone, there are not too many who
qualify. We might joke about someone being a genius at the poker
table, but we don't really think the person is a genius.

Who is Duesberg? Is he a "genius"? Why do you mention him?

Why do you wonder how long it will take for history to recognize
Szasz? [Do you mean as a "genius"?] Szasz is already in the
history books.

As for Moniz and the "lobotomy", most of us agree that it is wrong
for a person to be subjected to that operation without the person's
consent. But, strange as it may sound, I think there have been
people who have consented to the surgery. Of course, we would
probably be dubious of the circumstances surrounding the so-called
consent.

Did Moniz discover some information about the way the brain works?
Or did he just take the information somebody else found and start
performing lobotomies? Is it important to know that severing those
particular nerve tracts affects a person's personality (or whatever
the effect is)?



--- In thomasszaszdiscussion@yahoogroups.com, "Martin Kessler"
<titaniummdk@...> wrote:
>
>
> You are so right in your observations Mira, genius is always a
product of
> the Zeitgeist. How long will it take for history to recognize
Szasz or
> Duesberg? Both are condemned as "flat earthers". Both have been
given the
> Tod Schweigen treatment.
>
> Martin
>
> >From: Mira <mirah@...>
> >Reply-To: thomasszaszdiscussion@yahoogroups.com
> >To: thomasszaszdiscussion@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: Re: [ThomasSzaszDiscussion] Szasz's new book: "My
Madness Saved
> >Me"
> >Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 15:18:00 +0200
> >
> >ozarkheretic wrote:
> >
> > > I would point out that "manic depression" may very well be
> > > hereditary.
> >
> >I agree. The phenomenon is unique to organisms with human genes.
> >
> > > However, if md is a personality trait maybe it is a trait or
> > > behavioral tendency that is inherited.
> >
> >If it is. And if it isn't? What is madness? Who is mad? Who
decides what
> >is madness and what isn't?
> >
> > > For some reason Szasz seems to be very suspicious
of "genetics".
> >
> >I don't know about Szasz, but I myself am quite suspicious of
> >"genetics". After the mass murder of 400,000 psychiatric patients,
> >6,000,000 Jews, and I don't know how many Roma, Sinti,
homosexuals,
> >people with dark skins, and others in the name of genetic purity,
I have
> >become suspicious.
> >
> > > Galton's research on "genius" really led to the research on
> > > "intelligence".
> >
> >Please define intelligence. Why do we need this research?
> >
> > > And actually Modern research has shown that "intelligence" is
a
> > > characteristic or trait that is primarily produced by
heredity or
> > > genetics.
> >
> >Really? How has Modern research shown that?
> >
> > > People do not become intelligent because of the environments
they
> > > grow up in.
> > > They are intelligent
> > > because of DNA that is transmitted to them by their parents.
> >
> >Then we can stop bothering to educate them?
> >
> > > A genius was a person who had made some
> > > remarkable discovery in science.
> >
> >Who decides which discovery is remarkable? Egaz Moniz, for
instance,
> >received a Nobel prize for "discovering" (inventing) lobotomy. Is
he a
> >genius?
> >
> > > having a high IQ does not make a person a genius.
> >
> >What is IQ? How is it measured?
> >
> >The point is that words like madness and genius are not delineable
> >facts. They are attributions and value judgments. You can be
> >inconspicuous. You can be conspicuous. In the second case, people
who
> >admire you will call you a genius. People who don't will call you
mad.
> >These concepts are like beauty -- in the eye of the beholder.
> >
> >Mira
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>