The meaning of the term “common sense” has evolved over the past 2800 years, since Aristotle, of Ancient Greece introduced the term “sensus communis” (Latin meaning “a sense shared by all”). It was Aristotle’s belief that all humans gain information about the world through their five senses and this information is stored as latent knowledge …
Intellectual giftedness is a double-edged sword. It comes with remarkable potential benefits as well as significant social challenges. A person who is intellectually gifted learns easily, can problem-solve at very high levels, and indulge in sophisticated abstract thought. This means that with sufficient work they can learn virtually any academic subject. For such a person, …
What are the potential emotional and social benefits of being intellectually gifted? Read More »
Miika, I will not write about my personal experiences, because I don’t want to make this post about me, but I will share with you what I have learned about high IQ people and their life experiences. I hope this will be helpful to you as your raise your children. People of high intelligence have …
To investigate this question, it’s important to recognize that intelligence is not an absolute quality, but is a cognitive capacity to succeed in a particular environment. The famous quote, “Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it …
Of course, the answer to this question depends upon a person’s definition of success. If “success” means high achievement, then the only condition that can be declared as absolutely necessary is intensity of purpose. The intensity of purpose is a passionate commitment to a goal that is so strong that it drives a person to …
It is extremely unlikely that anyone of average intelligence could develop enough expertise to become a research mathematician or theoretical physicist, but there is a remote possible exception. The rarified intellectual realm at the top levels of mathematical research was well depicted in the 1997 movie Good Will Hunting. When Fields Medalist, Professor Gerald Lambeau, …
In answering this question, I will assume that “low-class background” refers to a low socioeconomic background. The good news for anyone from a low socioeconomic background is that your intellectual potential is determined to a large extent by the genes you inherit. In 2011, a large group of researchers published a paper stating: (See: Davies, …
Can an exceptionally intelligent person come from a low-class background? Read More »
We have all met people who speak with great certainty about things in which they are not well versed. When challenged they tend to double down on their certainty and refuse to accept the possibility that they may be mistaken. I had a brother-in-law, now deceased, who used to respond to any of my opinions …
High intelligence is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing part is evident to almost everyone. A person of high intelligence can learn easily, qualify for almost any educational degree and, if interested, can earn substantial income. The curse aspect is less evident, but high intelligence, or its proxy a high IQ, can be …
Since applying the term “genius” to a person depends on consensus, usually after their death, I will provide instead some examples of high achievers of very high IQ who were perceived as slow or unintelligent by their teachers and/or parents. On February 11, 1847, Thomas Alva Edison was born in Milan Ohio, the seventh and …
