The article “Why we stopped making Einsteins” by Erik Hoel explores the decline of world-historic geniuses in the modern era, despite unprecedented access to information and mass education. The author discusses how, rather than a boom in genius, there appears to be a noticeable drop-off in truly exceptional thinkers, artists, and scientists compared to the past.

Key points include:
- Historical Comparison: Figures like Tolstoy, Nietzsche, Marx, and Darwin were considered giants, but there are few, if any, contemporary equals.
- Data & Trends: Analysis and charts suggest a downward trend in the emergence of acclaimed geniuses, despite exponential population growth and knowledge accessibility.
- Educational Explanations: Common debates about the effectiveness of schools, class sizes, and educational policies seem not to correlate strongly with producing genius. Studies indicate that conventional schooling and even prestigious institutions don’t make a significant difference to outcomes when adjusting for pre-existing ability.
- Tutoring as a Solution: The essay argues that the most potent method for nurturing genius historically has been one-on-one or “aristocratic tutoring,” which was prevalent among the aristocracy and intellectual elite for centuries. Examples include Bertrand Russell, John von Neumann, Charles Darwin, Ada Lovelace, and Einstein—all of whom benefited from intensive, individualized tutoring.
- Modern Shortfall: Today, tutoring is rare, reserved mostly for remedial instruction or test prep, rather than broad, deep intellectual cultivation.
- Societal Shifts: The move toward mass, democratic education has created widespread literacy and opportunity but at the cost of the unique, “artisanal” cultivation of intellectual prodigies.
- Future Possibilities: The potential for AI tutors to revive personalized education is noted, but the author questions whether true genius can re-emerge in a “mass-produced” system.
In summary, the essay posits that the end of widespread, intensive, individualized tutoring and the rise of mass education systems have contributed significantly to the decline in the emergence of “Einsteins”—extraordinary minds whose influence shapes history.
Read the full article by clicking the link below:
https://www.theintrinsicperspective.com/p/why-we-stopped-making-einsteins
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