Why are highly intelligent people social outcasts?

Question

Society idolizes intellect, but they hate the ones that they value the most. Einstein, Gauss, Tesla, Aristole, Shakespeare, Spinoza, Mozart, Bach, etc;

All of these people were praised for their genius.

But why is it then, in reality, if and when a genius emerges, he or she is universally hated by everyone and conspired against in any possible manner?

Held on the fringes of the social circles, with not even the loneliest of those that will accept them.

Any ideas or comments would help tremendously, as this type of behavior goes completely against what logically should happen.

Thanks in advance ;)

Answer 1

It's simply not true that all highly intelligent people are, or were, social outcasts.

I don't know why you think everyone hated the people you name; orwhy you think they're a complete list.

It's simply not true that every genius is universally hated by everyone, or conspired against in every possible manner.

It's not true, for instance, that every person hated Einstein; or that every person conspired against him.

Ever heard of Erdos numbers? (I'm pretty sure that's his name.)

Erdos was a mathematical genius -- real genius.

Couldn't function otherwise.

He'd show up at another mathemetician's doorstep, come for a stay.

He'd have to be completely taken care of. Which people did, not only willingly, but delightedly. He was there to do math; the people he stayed with were thrilled at the honor of his wanting to do math with them.

If you co-wrote a paper with him, you had an Erdos number of 1; ifyou co-wrote with someone with a 1, you had an Erdos number of 2.

People bragged about their Erdos numbers.

The wives had to do the guy's laundry, feed him, put him up. Everyone he stayed with was thrilled to do so. It was an honor.

And he wasn't just a highly intelligent person -- he was disfunctional in everything but math.

Then there are a lot of highly intelligent people who aren't disfunctional at everything else.

Whoever told you that EVERYONE hated everyone on your list?

They were lying. Big time.

Answer 2

its mostly about goin' against their believes of their society!! so after death they become famous cuz after that people realize that they were wrong!! that's how it is!!

Answer 3

A genius is less likely to conform. The nail that sticks up, gets hammered down. Simple as that really.

Answer 4

It's all about what you choose to reveal to people. I won't choose to show people that I like intelligent conversations or deep topics untill we become friends or I can see them liking that too. Untill then I just joke around with people or make conversation, but nothing heavy. there's just a certain type of conversation you can't have with everyone you know. People either adapt to you or you adapt to people and if neither does then that's when they don't have anything to do with eachother.

Answer 5

Some people may not agree with your question, but I think it is an excellent question.

My father is extremely intelligent, and he has trouble socializing with others. He has had this problem all of his life he told me.

It may be because highly intelligent people perceive things differently in most aspects of life, thus common ground with people of average or below average intelligence is

non-existent.

This is just a simple thought of mine. I don't think a long answer is needed. Intelligent people just see things differently.

It's what makes most of them intelligent.

Answer 6

Intelligence is power.  The less rationally intelligent and critically thinking a person is, the more subjective, fear-based and superstitious the person is, which makes sense, and they operate from a more primitive level related to response to power.  The less we know, the more we fear.  Someone with brains scares some people who then engage the strategy of bringing others down rather than rising themselves in order to feel empowered.  Also, as an interesting note, I am fascinated that when people grow very very wise and enlightened, they remove themselves from society and reverse the ostracism, avoiding less aware people.

Answer 7

People used to tell me that I scared them.

When someone is so very far advanced in their thinking that they cannot even communicate, it creates a barrier to socialization.

And....when they are able to communicate a brief synopsis, they are usually shunned because the ideas are sometimes scary.

Most genius excels in dreaming of change. New ideas, new frontiers, new concepts.

Most people who are average in intelligence fear change. They are content to have things stay the same.

Just life I guess. Not much can be done about it, except for geniuses to not speak about events or subjects to those who are comfortable in their life and world.

Answer 8

They hate the fact that they are intellectually superior to them.

Or that the genius' have mental problems, such as Einstein. Einstein had problems that the teachers thought he was retarted. People made fun of him. No one thought he would become a great scientist. So having mental problems as well.

Third thing is that the more intelligent you are, the less social and more detached you become.

Answer 9

I personally know of some very intelligent people(maybe not as smart as Einstein)but i believe they are so smart that the social part of their brain is limited and hence they are socially akward,because their brain takes up most of their part of their socializing part of the brain,their just brainiac's!

Answer 10

Often it is because the most genius (if that's a proper construct) lack developed social skills.

The sterotypical "nerd" is often not far off from a savant.  The source of their genius comes from a single-mindedness that precludes "normal" socialization or actualization.