George, your title certainly caught my attention, and I attempted to hold this in mind as I read your well-presented essay that gives a rounded view.

IMO, I don't think of him as a Genius, but I do think of him as a person who dances and plays with fire. As with anyone in the public eye, it is easy to form an opinion in isolation of understanding their motives and background.

What I will say is, I suspect Peterson knows what he is doing in terms of the audience he attracts and the polarising debates he has. As you aptly state in your article, we live in a time of heightened polarisation and popularism. I think Peterson knows and positions himself as such. For this reason, I don't think he is a Genius; he is an intellect for sure, but I wonder about his motives and where he see's himself with his platform and wider responsibility.