Divine fury [electronic book] : a history of genius / Darrin M. McMahon.
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
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.
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Access limited to authorized users.
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Description based on print version record.
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Divine fury.
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Table of Contents
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.
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.