Brendan Kelly Ph.D.

Brendan Kelly is Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto. He is author of over 50 books including the recent "Intelligence, IQ & Perception", and "Intelligence: Where we Were, Where we Are & Where we’re Going." He holds two doctorate degrees: a Ph.D. in Mathematics (Number Theory) from U. of T. and an Ed.D. in Computer Applications from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, and he curates his site on Quora titled, “IQ & Intelligence.”

Can you provide an example of a situation where ignorance would be more beneficial than intelligence? Why do you think this is the case?

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There are many cases in the history of science and technology in which ignorance has been more beneficial than knowledge (rather than intelligence), because our “knowledge” is often incomplete or flawed. A dramatic example of this occurred when Einstein was formulating his field equations for his General Theory of Relativity. His original equations, expressed as …

Can you provide an example of a situation where ignorance would be more beneficial than intelligence? Why do you think this is the case? Read More »

Are there any unsolved problems in mathematics that have stumped even geniuses like Albert Einstein?

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When the quintessential genius Sir Isaac Newton was praised for his brilliance in deriving Kepler’s mathematical laws, mathematizing gravitational force and inventing calculus, he expressed with remarkable insight the vast difference between the magnitudes of solved and unsolved problems: I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem …

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Why do some people believe that the CEO of Tesla is not intelligent? How has he achieved success despite these perceptions?

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People often differ in their assessment of the intelligence of others, because they apply different measures to assess intelligence. If IQ is your measure of intelligence, then there is a great deal of evidence to suggest that Elon Musk has a high IQ. The following excerpt from the book Intelligence, IQ and Perception provides a …

Why do some people believe that the CEO of Tesla is not intelligent? How has he achieved success despite these perceptions? Read More »

Why do so many people assume that education and intelligence are the same things? I keep reading that Republicans are uneducated. That is not synonymous with intelligence.

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Education and intelligence are often assumed to be synonymous because they are highly correlated. However, correlation is a statistical concept, that doesn’t apply at the individual level. For example, there are people of extremely high IQ who have little or no education, and conversely, people of modest intelligence who have collected a variety of degrees. …

Why do so many people assume that education and intelligence are the same things? I keep reading that Republicans are uneducated. That is not synonymous with intelligence. Read More »

What are some surprising discoveries made through deductive reasoning?

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Throughout most of our evolution as a species, our knowledge has been empirically obtained. That is, we observed our world and drew conclusions based on what we saw, heard and felt. We believed the earth was flat because we didn’t observe any curvature. We believed that the earth was the center of the universe because …

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In what ways does abstract reasoning impact our daily lives? How can individuals improve their abstract reasoning skills to enhance their way of living?

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A complete answer to the general question about abstract reasoning would require many pages of discussion, so I will focus only on one tiny example. In the US election of 2024 it became apparent that one of the biggest challenges facing the average American was financial–paying for groceries and meeting financial obligations. With escalating costs, …

In what ways does abstract reasoning impact our daily lives? How can individuals improve their abstract reasoning skills to enhance their way of living? Read More »

What are the characteristics of having an average IQ but high EQ? Are there any advantages or disadvantages to having this combination compared to having a very high IQ or EQ only?

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Years ago, I served as a mathematics supervisor for a school board serving 50,000 students spread across 70 elementary schools and 16 high schools. My job was to build the K -12 mathematics program, test the students and provide in-service for the teachers. As part of this process, I convened a committee composed of the …

What are the characteristics of having an average IQ but high EQ? Are there any advantages or disadvantages to having this combination compared to having a very high IQ or EQ only? Read More »

What makes math a difficult subject? Is it due to its abstract nature or does it require more brain power than other subjects?

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In his bestseller, Thinking Fast and Slow, psychologist Daniel Kahneman outlined the two modes of thinking that he called System 1 and System 2. Roughly speaking, System 1 mode consists of intellectual processes that are “hard-wired” into our psyche and are performed automatically, or with minimal effort. Our startled reaction to an unexpected loud noise …

What makes math a difficult subject? Is it due to its abstract nature or does it require more brain power than other subjects? Read More »

Is it common for people to feel inferior around those who are highly intelligent and not understand them?

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As social animals, we humans are always comparing ourselves to others. During our childhood, we compare ourselves to others in terms of our physical and mental attributes. Physical stature, athleticism, beauty and intellectual ability are common methods of comparison and they have a significant impact on our emerging self-concept. Those who feel superior in these …

Is it common for people to feel inferior around those who are highly intelligent and not understand them? Read More »

What are the reasons behind people wanting to have high IQs? What are some advantages of having a higher than average intelligence?

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A high IQ is a mixed blessing. In previous posts, I’ve written about the downsides of a high IQ, but in this post we’ll look at the part of a high IQ that may be called a “blessing.” A person with a high IQ learns easily, can problem-solve at very high levels, and indulge in …

What are the reasons behind people wanting to have high IQs? What are some advantages of having a higher than average intelligence? Read More »

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