3 ms·

Ask HN: Scientifically proven ways to become smarter?

gregjor 5y ago
No, but it would depend on what you mean by “smart.” All evidence indicates that the quality scientists refer to as intelligence, or g, is largely inherited, i.e. genetic. The remainder is usually attributed to early childhood environment and development. By the time you’re old enough to think about this and post on HN you’re probably too old to budge your IQ. “Smart” can mean educated, wise, skilled, experienced, etc., qualities that generally come from effort, practice, and getting older.
- GianFabien 5y ago
  The term "smart" is very subjective. Many people with PhDs are rather forthcoming about all the things they don't know. Being able to learn complex stuff might be seen as being smart, but what use is it if you can't apply it to practical ends? Being "smart" is very contextual. So if you are smart when it comes to computers, can you fix a blocked drain? or tune a quad carbie set-up on a big V8? or even build a shed in the backyard?
  - gregjor 5y ago
    Intelligent and educated are different qualities, in the same way that dumb and ignorant mean different things. A person can have high IQ but no education. A person with average IQ can have a PhD. Knowing how to unclog a drain or tune a V8 have more to do with practice and experience than IQ. We call those abilities skills, things you can learn and get better at.
JohnJamesRambo 5y ago
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16140369/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16140369/
drannex 5y ago
Reading and writing. Proven time and time again and a cornerstone to modern life.
inphovore 5y ago
Intelligence is the mitigation of uncertainty, if it does not mitigate uncertainty it is not intelligence. Your brain is as a FPGA, it can be educated, trained, skilled, talented, opportunistic. Intensive contemplation is scientifically proven to expand your capacity to contemplate. Getting a PhD requires a minimal standard of such investment. Who are these scientists anyways? It is scientifically proven that using your brain makes it useful.

No, but it would depend on what you mean by “smart.” All evidence indicates that the quality scientists refer to as intelligence, or g, is largely inherited, i.e. genetic. The remainder is usually attributed to early childhood environment and development. By the time you’re old enough to think about this and post on HN you’re probably too old to budge your IQ. “Smart” can mean educated, wise, skilled, experienced, etc., qualities that generally come from effort, practice, and getting older.

GianFabien 5y ago
The term "smart" is very subjective. Many people with PhDs are rather forthcoming about all the things they don't know. Being able to learn complex stuff might be seen as being smart, but what use is it if you can't apply it to practical ends? Being "smart" is very contextual. So if you are smart when it comes to computers, can you fix a blocked drain? or tune a quad carbie set-up on a big V8? or even build a shed in the backyard?
- gregjor 5y ago
  Intelligent and educated are different qualities, in the same way that dumb and ignorant mean different things. A person can have high IQ but no education. A person with average IQ can have a PhD. Knowing how to unclog a drain or tune a V8 have more to do with practice and experience than IQ. We call those abilities skills, things you can learn and get better at.

JohnJamesRambo 5y ago

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16140369/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16140369/

drannex 5y ago

Reading and writing. Proven time and time again and a cornerstone to modern life.

inphovore 5y ago

Intelligence is the mitigation of uncertainty, if it does not mitigate uncertainty it is not intelligence. Your brain is as a FPGA, it can be educated, trained, skilled, talented, opportunistic. Intensive contemplation is scientifically proven to expand your capacity to contemplate. Getting a PhD requires a minimal standard of such investment. Who are these scientists anyways? It is scientifically proven that using your brain makes it useful.