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Humans have always had the same/similar capacity for intelligence, but the modern world creates people with IQs significantly higher than the median would have
by debacle 8y ago
Humans have always had the same/similar capacity for intelligence, but the modern world creates people with IQs significantly higher than the median would have been only 150 years ago.
- jfz 8y agoBecause IQ is a measure of abstract analytical and pattern-matching intelligence, our economic shift towards more analytical/intelligence-driven work causes us to practice those skills more. I could say that FQ (factory-production quotient) has decreased over the last 150 years, but that doesn't mean that people are more or less intelligent, only that they practice different things.
- peterwwillis 8y agoIt's interesting how this simple truth is not obvious to most people, and we somehow think that people with skills or knowledge have some special quality we don't, when really they're just experienced.
- jaggederest 8y agoI think, if I'm practicing the principle of charity, the GP meant the difference in nutrition and sanitation standards, i.e. general health, rather than some sort of "now is the pinnacle of humanity" sense.
- Cthulhu_ 8y agoIs IQ still considered important? I've not seen it around other than people bragging online about having a high IQ, which they take to mean they are very smart (when usually they're not, more like, average). Also I disagree partially, I do think the modern world creates smarter and/or more educated people, but that's thanks to education. Lots of education. And access to information of course.
- nebulous1 8y ago> Also I disagree partially, I do think the modern world creates smarter and/or more educated people, but that's thanks to education. Lots of education. And access to information of course. That's what the person you're replying to said ...
- beat 8y agoExtraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Source?