4 ms·

I'd venture that professional concert piano players or chess professionals (just to pick two random ones that popped into my head) are on average more intellige

by kriro 3y ago

I'd venture that professional concert piano players or chess professionals (just to pick two random ones that popped into my head) are on average more intelligent than other fields which I won't name. I suppose it depends on the definition of smart which I understand as intelligent/good rational decision making but maybe you mean somthing else.

anonymouskimmer 3y ago
I think the point GP was trying to make was about individuals in the groups, not averages. There are some brilliant janitors, and some professional piano or chess players have had savant syndrome. You're unlikely to find unintelligent or savant biochemists, but I'm sure more than a few are hyperfocused on their discipline to the exclusion of competency in other areas.
- 8note 3y ago
  For the uninitiated, what is a savant syndrome? What's it look like for a pianist vs a biochemist?
  - anonymouskimmer 3y ago
    Think "Rain Man". Though only about half are autistic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savant_syndrome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savant_syndrome Two pianists: Autistic savant syndrome: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Paravicini https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Paravicini https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_paravicini_and_adam_ockelford_in_the_key_of_genius https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_paravicini_and_adam_ockelfor... Acquired savant syndrome: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/derek-amato-acquired-savant-syndrome-piano/ https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/derek-amato-acquired-s... I doubt a biochemist would have savant syndrome. It's possible, maybe. It would probably look like someone who could recall all of the enzymes (and their variants) and intermediates in various biosynthetic pathways and could tell you without research which enzymes would need to be expressed together to get from one starting chemical to another.

by kriro 3y ago

anonymouskimmer 3y ago

I think the point GP was trying to make was about individuals in the groups, not averages. There are some brilliant janitors, and some professional piano or chess players have had savant syndrome. You're unlikely to find unintelligent or savant biochemists, but I'm sure more than a few are hyperfocused on their discipline to the exclusion of competency in other areas.

8note 3y ago
For the uninitiated, what is a savant syndrome? What's it look like for a pianist vs a biochemist?
- anonymouskimmer 3y ago
  Think "Rain Man". Though only about half are autistic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savant_syndrome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savant_syndrome Two pianists: Autistic savant syndrome: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Paravicini https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Paravicini https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_paravicini_and_adam_ockelford_in_the_key_of_genius https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_paravicini_and_adam_ockelfor... Acquired savant syndrome: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/derek-amato-acquired-savant-syndrome-piano/ https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/derek-amato-acquired-s... I doubt a biochemist would have savant syndrome. It's possible, maybe. It would probably look like someone who could recall all of the enzymes (and their variants) and intermediates in various biosynthetic pathways and could tell you without research which enzymes would need to be expressed together to get from one starting chemical to another.