Inspiration and Genius

In Our Time: Culture

BBC

History

4.6 • 978 Ratings

🗓️ 15 June 2000

⏱️ 29 minutes

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Summary

Melvyn Bragg explores genius and inspiration. “When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him”. So said Jonathon Swift, many people’s choice for a genius himself. But what does that word really mean? Are geniuses born or made? And what are the circumstances necessary for the great leaps of consciousness that inspire the development of science and art? Did Einstein’s brain arrive like that - markedly different from the expected formation - or did it become like that through thought? If genius does not exist, why are we so keen to invent it? Was Mozart programmed or pre-programmed and was Newton or anyone else solely responsible for inventing anything?With Arthur I. Miller, Professor of History and Philosophy of Science, Department of Science & Technology, University College London; Michael Howe, Professor of Psychology, Exeter University; Dr Juliet Mitchell, psychoanalyst and lecturer at Cambridge University.

Transcript

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0:44.8	Hello when a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign that the dunces are all in confederacy against him
1:07.0	So said Jonathan Swift many people's are and what are the circumstances necessary for the great leaps of consciousness that inspire the developments of science and art. Is it the old 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration or something the other way around.
1:13.0	With me to discuss the quality of genius and the nature of inspiration is Arthur I Miller,
1:17.0	Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at University College London,
1:20.0	and author of Insights of Genius.
1:23.3	Also with this is Juliet Mitchell, psychoanalysis,
1:25.6	and author of Mademann and Medusas.
1:28.0	And Michael Howe, professor of psychology at Exeter University,
1:31.0	and author of Genius Explained.
	...

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