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- Richard Feynman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (S.B. 1939), Princeton University (Ph.D. 1942)

Agreed that credentials aren't required for a pass to the genius club, but I didn't read that in the post above either.

A Ph.D. is something that anyone can do with a bit of patience and effort. Does that mean we should shift the bar so it means professors are geniuses? No. I don't think any arbitrary qualifications make you a genius.

I think that depends on the field and on your definition of “anyone.” I’d bet against an average 100 spatial/math IQ person being able to get a PhD in math or physics, even if hardworking and patient. They would probably be something like 2.5 standard deviations below average and while IQ is not the end-all and be-all, such a vast gap would make it extremely hard for them.

I think the bar should go much higher, somewhere around Feynman. And remember that’s low according to Feynman’s own standards: he didn’t see himself as a genius.

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