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The main thing about homo sapiens is that we are a cultural species, capable of evolving and select for culture much faster than genetic evolution, passing know

The main thing about homo sapiens is that we are a cultural species, capable of evolving and select for culture much faster than genetic evolution, passing know-how and tools down to the next generation to improve. The culture, tools and values we grow around with has so much power to shape our thinking and values (not even talking about opportunities) that I would be surprised if it didn't dwarf most genetic influence. (Hard to prove: how do you know success was passed down via culture vs genes?) This is why we are so interested to learn about geniuses: by adapting their values and thinking, we might be able to copy some of their success. This is the process of cultural learning, for better or worse.

EForEndeavour 6y ago
> Hard to prove: how do you know success was passed down via culture vs genes? By studying twins separated at birth (reared-apart twins), which establishes that genetics accounts for more variation in intelligence than environment, culture, etc. One starting point for further reading: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/20/well/family/what-twins-can-teach-us-about-nature-vs-nurture.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/20/well/family/what-twins-ca...
- jariel 6y ago
  'Success' in life is something completely different from 'success' in academia. The later probably requires one to be quite intelligent, the former, not necessarily, it'd be just one of many advantages. Throw in the creativity and propensity to think or daydream, frankly I don't know how many professors could do anything else with their lives. We all know profs who literally would put ties on backwards.