Specifically in a scientific context (I don’t know about other fields really but if you think it’s relevant, all debate is welcomed), is it getting harder and harder to be a ‘genuis’? To make a significant difference?
Pythagoras paved the way to number theory (as far as I understand). His best-remembered contribution is of course his theorem, which isn’t really that hard to prove. Newton’s laws aren’t hard as compared to some of the stuff they’re teaching in today’s university courses. These are just a couple of examples I can think of. I’m well aware of the multitude of other accomplishments these people have to their names so this isn’t the full story by any means.
My point is this: Examine the laws of something like Quantum Mechanics, General Relativity or String theory and they seem vastly more complex (both conceptually and mathematically) to the famous laws of past ‘Great Scientists’. Are the people working on the subjects more intelligent? Harder working? Is this some kind of ‘social evolution’? Is it possible that minds like Newton’s etc. are sat in university courses today but not actually achieving that much because the field has moved on too much?
On preview it seems like i have made my point kinda clumsily but I’m going ahead anyway 