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I think proving something like this is unfeasible. What is shown in studies of expert performance is that there's a very strong correlation between the hours of

I think proving something like this is unfeasible. What is shown in studies of expert performance is that there's a very strong correlation between the hours of deliberate practice and expertness in some field. That is, pretty much without any exceptions, experts in any field have been practicing for thousands of hours, the number typically quoted is in the order of 10000 hours. This doesn't prove anything particular about the necessity of talent, but it proves that at least hard work is necessary. But, on the other hand, nothing in these studies suggest that some talent-like property is necessary.

zasz 18y ago
The problem with those studies is that they analyzed successful experts. I want to see a study where they have everyone putting in thousands of hours of work. How many kids get into Juilliard every year, and how many achieve the same level as Yo Yo Ma? How many grad students are working their asses off at Caltech and MIT right now, and how many of those are actually going to produce some significant mathematical work? I don't doubt that ambition and effort are necessary, but of course some degree of talent must be key as well.