You Are Not So Smart 287 - The Complexity of Genius - David Krakauer and Dean Simonton
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May 13, 2024 
Delving into the complexity of genius, the podcast features David Krakauer and Dean Simonton discussing the intricate nature of exceptional abilities. They explore the historical perception of genius, innate talent versus environmental factors, and the correlation between mental disorders and creativity. The conversation challenges traditional views on genius and highlights the importance of openness to experience and cognitive disinhibition in making groundbreaking discoveries.
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Intelligence, Stupidity, and Genius
- David Krakauer defines intelligence as making hard problems easy.
- He contrasts this with stupidity, which makes easy problems hard, and genius, which makes hard problems disappear.
Dimensions of Intelligence
- Krakauer emphasizes the importance of a framework for intelligence applicable to collectives, machines, and non-humans, not just individuals.
- He introduces three dimensions of intelligence: inference, coding, and strategy.
Strategic Intelligence: The Coronavirus
- Krakauer uses the coronavirus as an example of strategic intelligence.
- Despite its simplicity, the virus effectively disrupted the world, highlighting the importance of strategy.