The Genius Leonardo

Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the world’s greatest geniuses. The essay “The Art of Genius” by Michael Mickalko, shows the different ways genius is shown and Da Vinci exceeds the guidelines. Leonardo Da Vinci exhibits every single one of the 8 thinking strategies that enables geniuses to generate original ideas

Leonardo shows the first three strategies in a number of ways. He was able to look at a problem from all angles when he was thinking of a way to make the first flying machine and then decided to use a propeller shaped blade for lift (Wallace 102). He also made his thought visible by all his notes and his drawings he made over the years. Leonardo was also able to “produce” by all the paintings he made. These show that Leonardo was a deep thinker when he was developing his original ideas.

Leonardo was able to make connections with everything around him and show that everything is linked. He was also able to force a relationship with the ripples from a stone hitting the water and the sound of a bell, to which he concluded that sound travels in waves (Mickalko164). Because Leonardo did so many scientific pursuits (anatomy, botany, cartography, geology, mathematics, aeronautics, optics, mechanics, astronomy, hydraulics, civil engineering, weaponry, city planning, etc.) he was able to always keep opposites in mind (Wallace 110). These show that Leonardo Da Vinci was able to connect topics together and bring about new answers.

Leonardo was able to see when he stumbled across something that other physicians might overlook. Leonard was able to take the mistakes of others and use that knowledge to make improvements them. Like the rope ladder which he made an array of improvements or the corner tower of a fortress where he made two circular stairs so the soldiers going up and down wouldn’t bump into each other (Wallace 72). These improvements would seem easy to spot but take a genius mind to figure out.

            These points made my author Michael Mickalko shows that Leonardo is a genius. By following all 8 strategies Leonardo proves that he is one of the greatest geniuses in the world.

Mickalko, Michael.  “The Art of Genius”.  Literature & Media 10. Ed.

Jessica Pegis. Ontario: Nelson English, 2001. 161 – 166

Wallace, Robert. The World of Leonardo. Canada: Time-Life Books, 1966