5 ms·

Disgusting as usual. Yet another reputed scholar going out of his field and posing a controversial set of ideas with mostly anecdotal justification. In particu

by alecco 18y ago

Disgusting as usual. Yet another reputed scholar going out of his field and posing a controversial set of ideas with mostly anecdotal justification. In particular, IQ is a very old and limited measure of cognitive ability with many controversies about culture bias. For example it doesn't reflect long term goal focus, a more important ability for success.

antiform 18y ago
To play Devil's advocate here, isn't your personal thesis that "long term goal focus" is important for success also based on anecdotal evidence? Or do you have a study that you would like to reference? I don't know too much about education or psychology or any related field, and I'd be very interested in looking at any material that you might have.
- kolya3 18y ago
  Dr. Banfield at Harvard University wrote a book in the 70's based on his study of this question ("The Unheavenly City"). His main finding is that long term success is tied to "long term goal focus".
- alecco 18y ago
  I read that on neuroscience blogs and peer-reviewed papers, they were doing fMRI based tests on subjects and their life achievements (but, as usual, telling them they were testing something else.) I can't find it right now as "long-term goal" is just too broad for a search (on Google Scholar.) It is very likely in one of the Encephalon entries, but there are about 52 of those with 10 to 20 references each, and spread out over dozens of blogs (they each turn in a different neuroscience blog.) Even if you don't find it, you'll sure find very interesting research in an easy to read form (well, [interesting] at least for me.) Related but not what I had in mind at that moment: http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/09/18/060918fa_fact?currentPage=all http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/09/18/060918fa_fact?cu... I don't know much about anything. My back-in-time kind of dream is to make my (younger) self pick neuroscience (well, that or protein biochemistry.)
Prrometheus 18y ago
I saw Charles Murray debate in a "panel of experts" style discussion once. He was extremely intelligent and generous to his opponents' ideas. For that reason, I usually listen to his arguments carefully when he makes them. I know he would listen to mine.
- alecco 18y ago
  Cool, but that doesn't substitute peer-reviewed research. His book and thesis is anything but that.
mynameishere 18y ago
Keep in mind that IQ can be measured in a 15 minute test. Almost every metric takes much, much longer. "Long term goal focus" requires...well, it requires the "long term", which makes it much less useful regarding particular policy positions. Here's a 9 year old child...what's his IQ? 115. What's his long-term-goal-focus? Only god knows.

by alecco 18y ago

antiform 18y ago

To play Devil's advocate here, isn't your personal thesis that "long term goal focus" is important for success also based on anecdotal evidence? Or do you have a study that you would like to reference? I don't know too much about education or psychology or any related field, and I'd be very interested in looking at any material that you might have.

kolya3 18y ago
Dr. Banfield at Harvard University wrote a book in the 70's based on his study of this question ("The Unheavenly City"). His main finding is that long term success is tied to "long term goal focus".
alecco 18y ago
I read that on neuroscience blogs and peer-reviewed papers, they were doing fMRI based tests on subjects and their life achievements (but, as usual, telling them they were testing something else.) I can't find it right now as "long-term goal" is just too broad for a search (on Google Scholar.) It is very likely in one of the Encephalon entries, but there are about 52 of those with 10 to 20 references each, and spread out over dozens of blogs (they each turn in a different neuroscience blog.) Even if you don't find it, you'll sure find very interesting research in an easy to read form (well, [interesting] at least for me.) Related but not what I had in mind at that moment: http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/09/18/060918fa_fact?currentPage=all http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/09/18/060918fa_fact?cu... I don't know much about anything. My back-in-time kind of dream is to make my (younger) self pick neuroscience (well, that or protein biochemistry.)

Prrometheus 18y ago

I saw Charles Murray debate in a "panel of experts" style discussion once. He was extremely intelligent and generous to his opponents' ideas. For that reason, I usually listen to his arguments carefully when he makes them. I know he would listen to mine.

alecco 18y ago
Cool, but that doesn't substitute peer-reviewed research. His book and thesis is anything but that.

mynameishere 18y ago

Keep in mind that IQ can be measured in a 15 minute test. Almost every metric takes much, much longer. "Long term goal focus" requires...well, it requires the "long term", which makes it much less useful regarding particular policy positions. Here's a 9 year old child...what's his IQ? 115. What's his long-term-goal-focus? Only god knows.