>>All major modern institutions of any importance exalt the intellectual while debasing anyone who hasn't been blessed. But that's a natural and important thin

>>All major modern institutions of any importance exalt the intellectual while debasing anyone who hasn't been blessed. But that's a natural and important thing to do. After all they want to solve problems that require intellectual power. Also, I disagree that the intellectual ones are intellectual only because they are blessed. A lot of grit and hard work is involved that cannot be so easily sidelined. There are a whole lot other issues also involved: nurturing by parents is one, exercising one's freedom to choose is another. If someone chooses, say dancing/sport over mathematics/science, at an early age, they (and/or their parents) are depriving themselves of an opportunity to improve their intellectual prowess. They (and/or their parents) are doing themselves a disservice.