However, these geniuses are not initially lauded and praised for their work; they are chastised, berated, arrested, beaten, and in the case of Socrates, put to death. The trials of misunderstood geniuses pose a crucial question to society: is the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and individuality worth the hardships of nonconformity? This question not only applies on the minute scale of a genius facing a strong opposition, like a government, but on a broader societal scale. When adolescents becomes a social outcast after their peers ostracize them for holding controversial opinions, it is likely they will lie or change in order to fit in with their peers. They believe this will make them happier, when in truth, it will not bring them the satisfaction they seek. Both the situations of famous men and “average” people further cement the question of whether or not it is worth it to be
However, these geniuses are not initially lauded and praised for their work; they are chastised, berated, arrested, beaten, and in the case of Socrates, put to death. The trials of misunderstood geniuses pose a crucial question to society: is the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and individuality worth the hardships of nonconformity? This question not only applies on the minute scale of a genius facing a strong opposition, like a government, but on a broader societal scale. When adolescents becomes a social outcast after their peers ostracize them for holding controversial opinions, it is likely they will lie or change in order to fit in with their peers. They believe this will make them happier, when in truth, it will not bring them the satisfaction they seek. Both the situations of famous men and “average” people further cement the question of whether or not it is worth it to be