Robert Peters wrote:

>Additonal question to John Whites post about "diluted genius":
>
>What is a genius? What is the difference between a great composer and
>a genius? Is Mozart a genius and Prokofieff not? Why? Is John Lennon a
>genius? What, then, is a genius? (Serious questions.  I studied literature
>and know the Goethe definition of genius.  But who can for sure state that
>Goethe and Shakespeare were geniuses and Guenter Grass and Iris Murdoch
>are none?)

As an ardent nurturist I think that we should look at this question in a
different way.  We should ask what works show evidence of genius.  Then
these works can be marvelled not as poducts of an individual but as an
outstanding output from the human race.

I once heard some Beethoven works being described as "a remarkable
testimony to human spirit".  That about sums it up.

Bob Draper