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Astronomy was replaced astrology but many people still use astrology to inform their beliefs. I doubt that the existence of better science would stop people fro

Astronomy was replaced astrology but many people still use astrology to inform their beliefs. I doubt that the existence of better science would stop people from using IQ.

feanaro 8y ago
That may very well be, but IQ is still the best we have right now and, more importantly, is much more coherent and reliable than astrology is. The possibility of its use being continued in a lay manner even after we have a better model shouldn't stop us from using it right now. In fact, you could use the same argument to argue against any other current scientific knowledge.
- mike00632 8y ago
  >IQ is still the best we have right now... Is it? Then why don't we use it instead of other tests and metrics? I'm going to echo what other people have said in this thread and say that I've never encountered an IQ test in my academic or professional life among the numerous aptitude measurements. >In fact, you could use the same argument to argue against any other current scientific knowledge. The same argument is indeed used against eugenics, human experimentation, and various other sciences which are tangent to ethically challenged practices. For example, gene editing of humans is a scientific practice that could have clear benefit but the potential for misuse (which we've already seen in the recent Chinese gene hacking case) must be considered.
  - feanaro 8y ago
    > Is it? Yes, it is, at least I am unaware of other general approaches to measuring general human cognitive ability. > Then why don't we use it instead of other tests and metrics? I'm going to echo what other people have said in this thread and say that I've never encountered an IQ test in my academic or professional life among the numerous aptitude measurements. See this comment thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18805263 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18805263. Apparently, this is a cultural thing, in that some countries don't employ this kind of testing, but there are definitely countries where this is not at all infrequent. It is also possible that not all cognitive tests which are (statistically) g-factor-loaded are readily recognizable as an "IQ test" by most people. As was also stated elsewhere in this thread, the SATs test could be considered one such test. > The same argument is indeed used against eugenics, human experimentation, and various other sciences which are tangent to ethically challenged practices. For example, gene editing of humans is a scientific practice that could have clear benefit but the potential for misuse (which we've already seen in the recent Chinese gene hacking case) must be considered. I meant it in a broader sense: why would we use this current state-of-the-art model when we will undoubtedly produce better and more accurate ones in the future? This could be said for physics, pharmacology and any other "unfinished" field, which is all of them.
    - diminoten 8y ago
      I'll ask again, did you actually read the submission? I get how cliche it is to ask this but you genuinely seem ignorant of the entire basis is this conversation. If you had read the submission, you would know how flawed and useless IQ tests are, and how they reward test taking abilities over intellect.
      - feanaro 8y ago
        I have read the submission, but have you? Did you somehow miss the complete absence of substance in it? Which part of it should have me convinced? That Taleb said so and did so emphatically? That you are now repeating it emphatically? Please remain civil and refrain from calling me ignorant. I have read the submission and disagree with its (lack of) argument.
        diminoten 8y ago
        How can I do anything but call you ignorant when you say things like "did you somehow miss the complete absence of substance in it?" You're not following HN rules by refusing to address the best form of the argument, and when you break rules like that, it makes it hard to stay civil.
        feanaro 8y ago
        You crashed into this comment thread immediately accusing me of not reading the submission without actually stating an argument. If you do have an argument, feel free to present it.
        diminoten 8y ago
        Again, not about me, it's about the argument, and there's a great one in the article itself, as well as throughout the comments here. Stop focusing on me, start focusing on the arguments. If I'm not making a good argument, why are you replying?
        8y ago

Astronomy was replaced astrology but many people still use astrology to inform their beliefs. I doubt that the existence of better science would stop people from using IQ.

feanaro 8y ago

That may very well be, but IQ is still the best we have right now and, more importantly, is much more coherent and reliable than astrology is. The possibility of its use being continued in a lay manner even after we have a better model shouldn't stop us from using it right now. In fact, you could use the same argument to argue against any other current scientific knowledge.

mike00632 8y ago
>IQ is still the best we have right now... Is it? Then why don't we use it instead of other tests and metrics? I'm going to echo what other people have said in this thread and say that I've never encountered an IQ test in my academic or professional life among the numerous aptitude measurements. >In fact, you could use the same argument to argue against any other current scientific knowledge. The same argument is indeed used against eugenics, human experimentation, and various other sciences which are tangent to ethically challenged practices. For example, gene editing of humans is a scientific practice that could have clear benefit but the potential for misuse (which we've already seen in the recent Chinese gene hacking case) must be considered.
- feanaro 8y ago
  > Is it? Yes, it is, at least I am unaware of other general approaches to measuring general human cognitive ability. > Then why don't we use it instead of other tests and metrics? I'm going to echo what other people have said in this thread and say that I've never encountered an IQ test in my academic or professional life among the numerous aptitude measurements. See this comment thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18805263 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18805263. Apparently, this is a cultural thing, in that some countries don't employ this kind of testing, but there are definitely countries where this is not at all infrequent. It is also possible that not all cognitive tests which are (statistically) g-factor-loaded are readily recognizable as an "IQ test" by most people. As was also stated elsewhere in this thread, the SATs test could be considered one such test. > The same argument is indeed used against eugenics, human experimentation, and various other sciences which are tangent to ethically challenged practices. For example, gene editing of humans is a scientific practice that could have clear benefit but the potential for misuse (which we've already seen in the recent Chinese gene hacking case) must be considered. I meant it in a broader sense: why would we use this current state-of-the-art model when we will undoubtedly produce better and more accurate ones in the future? This could be said for physics, pharmacology and any other "unfinished" field, which is all of them.
  - diminoten 8y ago
    I'll ask again, did you actually read the submission? I get how cliche it is to ask this but you genuinely seem ignorant of the entire basis is this conversation. If you had read the submission, you would know how flawed and useless IQ tests are, and how they reward test taking abilities over intellect.
    - feanaro 8y ago
      I have read the submission, but have you? Did you somehow miss the complete absence of substance in it? Which part of it should have me convinced? That Taleb said so and did so emphatically? That you are now repeating it emphatically? Please remain civil and refrain from calling me ignorant. I have read the submission and disagree with its (lack of) argument.
      - diminoten 8y ago
        How can I do anything but call you ignorant when you say things like "did you somehow miss the complete absence of substance in it?" You're not following HN rules by refusing to address the best form of the argument, and when you break rules like that, it makes it hard to stay civil.
        feanaro 8y ago
        You crashed into this comment thread immediately accusing me of not reading the submission without actually stating an argument. If you do have an argument, feel free to present it.
        diminoten 8y ago
        Again, not about me, it's about the argument, and there's a great one in the article itself, as well as throughout the comments here. Stop focusing on me, start focusing on the arguments. If I'm not making a good argument, why are you replying?
        8y ago