Divine fury [electronic book] : a history of genius / Darrin M. McMahon.
McMahon, Darrin M.
2013
BF416.A1 M35 2013eb
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Title Divine fury [electronic book] : a history of genius / Darrin M. McMahon.
Author McMahon, Darrin M.
ISBN 9780465069910 electronic book
9780465003259 hard cover
Published New York : Basic Books, [2013]
Copyright ©2013
Language English
Description 1 online resource (361 pages)
Call Number BF416.A1 M35 2013eb
Dewey Decimal Classification 153.9/809
Summary "Genius. The word connotes an almost unworldly power: the power to create, to grasp universal secrets, even to destroy. As renowned intellectual historian Darrin McMahon explains in Divine Fury, the concept of genius can be traced back to antiquity, when men of great insight were thought to be advised by demons. The modern idea of genius emerged in tension with a growing belief in human equality; contesting the notion that all are created equal, geniuses served to dramatize the exception of extraordinary individuals not governed by ordinary laws. Today, the idea of genius has become cheapened-rock stars and football coaches earn the term with seemingly the same ease as astrophysicists and philosophers-yet our enduring fascination with it reflects the desires, needs, and fears of ordinary human beings. The first comprehensive history of this mysterious yet foundational concept, Divine Fury follows the fortunes of genius from Socrates to Napoleon to Einstein and beyond, analyzing its democratization, disappearance, and potential rebirth."-- Provided by publisher.
Bibliography, etc. Note Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access Note Access limited to authorized users.
Source of Description Description based on print version record.
Available in Other Form Divine fury.
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Introduction: The problem of genius
The genius of the ancients
The genius of Christianity
The genius of the moderns
The dawn of the idols
Romantic genius
Geniology
The religion of genius
Conclusion: The genius of the people.

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