4 ms·
His last point about poverty destroying genius was what really struck me. I remember reading that 71% of the world's population lives on less than $10 a day.
by vivekd 10y ago
His last point about poverty destroying genius was what really struck me. I remember reading that 71% of the world's population lives on less than $10 a day. That doesn't seem to be enough to get a decent education and contribute meaningfully to any field. This means that the world is working at 30% capacity. Our species only gets innovations from the 30% of inventors, entrepreneurs, politicians, scientists who were born in circumstances that allow them to contribute. How many more Srinivasa Ramanujans are there scattered throughout the world who simply didn't run into an obscure textbook or write to all the worlds top mathematicians. What would our species be like if we were working at closer to 100% capacity in terms of scientific innovations and discoveries.
- joe_the_user 10y agoI would mention that statistics like "$10/day" don't necessary capture the average living conditions of people. $10/day may yield a room over your head, a dull but acceptable meal and a somewhat austere routine in one place (whatever third world nation) but may yield a chaotic struggle for survival in another area (the USA). Which is not to say that poverty isn't eating a lot of people but rather that guarantees of food, cloth and shelter can be more useful metrics than median income in various places (world median income is rising but does that mean an increase people's ability to realize their geniuses, visions, passions etc?).
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]