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I think we put too much weight on intelligence as the factor differentiating innovators from the rest. If we were to clone some great scientists from the past I
by calepayson 3y ago
I think we put too much weight on intelligence as the factor differentiating innovators from the rest. If we were to clone some great scientists from the past I believe would be underwhelmed.
Not because these aren’t brilliant people but because brilliance isn’t the most important factor in innovation. Rather, innovation is driven by people who are exposed to a novel environment and are just smart enough to not ignore it.
Bill Gates’ highschool was the only one in the US with a computer. Albert Einstein was working in a patent office where he saw a conga-line of patents discussing how to standardize the measurement of time across vast geographies.
Both brilliant people. Both exposed to a novel societal idea. Thankfully they were smart enough to run with it.
- _a_a_a_ 3y ago> but because brilliance isn’t the most important factor in innovation I suspect having at least moderately wealthy parents is a huge factor. I'm sure a lot of potentially great scientists died unknown for absence of those.
- lumost 3y agoAye - having the choice to not take the economically best action is a unique one. On average you would expect this to be born out in most academic fields where the researcher either comes from a background enabling their exploration on economically viable terms - or academia is surprisingly the most economic choice.
- Vt71fcAqt7 3y ago>Albert Einstein was working in a patent office where he saw a conga-line of patents discussing how to standardize the measurement of time across vast geographies. I don't thik this was a relevant factor. Certainly not as much as reading Poincare's work (which anyone had access to).