The Man of Genius

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lombroso, Cesare, 1835-1909

Standardized Title:

L'uomo di genio. English

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Man of Genius" by Cesare Lombroso is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The book delves into the complex relationship between genius and madness, exploring the characteristics of individuals considered genius and how these traits intersect with patterns of mental illness. Lombroso examines historical figures and provides a foundational analysis of genius through a lens of physiological and psychological phenomena. The opening of the work sets the stage for an exploration of genius by referencing significant historical thoughts on the topic, from Aristotle to more contemporary thinkers. Lombroso reflects on his evolving views about genius relating to degradation and neurosis, suggesting that exceptional intellectual capabilities often stem from psychological anomalies. He lays out an argument that associates genius with various signs of degeneration, prompting readers to reconsider what defines genius and how societal perceptions may have historically conflated brilliance with madness. This thought-provoking introduction invites further examination of the intertwining nature of genius, mental health, and societal recognition. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images available at The Internet Archive)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 57.7 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2015-11-23