Scientific genius: in different guises

摘要

Dean Keith Simontons contention that scientific genius is extinct (Nature 493,602; 2013) may itself be based on an extinct - or at least dying - concept of genius. In the past, geniuses were lone scientists who distilled extant knowledge to spawn innovation. Simonton lays part of the blame for their extinction on modern team science (see K. Borner et al. Sci. Transl. Med. 2,49cm24; 2010). But a different kind of genius can exist inside a team. An example might be the member who instinctively optimizes the groups complementary expertise to elicit a ground-breaking discovery. Even more radical forms of genius are conceivable.