The talent: concepts, types, method of identification

When stating that it is important to “name phenomena correctly” wise Confucius defined the basic function of the scientific knowledge, since theory is a developing concept. “Giftedness” as a separate term at the level of notion has the same root as creativity and follows the same curve in the course of its development. In the paper historical evolution of the notion of giftedness as well as its initial genetic roots are presented for the first time. This enables us to explain theoretically a concept of giftedness existing in the present time as something appearing naturally. Although this understanding represents only a certain stage in development of this notion. Accuracy of this position is realized in the report through the frameworks of Hegel’s triad of thesis, antithesis and synthesis . As a thesis, we propose theoretical ideas of certain scientists from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century starting from F. Galton, who considered giftedness as a complex of intellect and personality, in the first place. Difficulties of such a concept realization in this historical period as well as its contradictions are exposed. It has led scientists to deliberate reduction of composite explanation of giftedness and its reduction to intellect only, as a systematically observed component, which was the only thing that could be measured. This approach is considered by us as an antithesis to the original composite approach. The author’s approach is represented, which removes the modern reduced concept of giftedness based on methodological positions of Russian psychology (L.S. Vygotsky, S.L. Rubinstein, B.M. Teplov). It is shown by the author that realization of systemic approach is only possible when a unit of analysis of a phenomenon under study is isolated, i.e. a non-additive property of the system is singled out.