Intelligence is a multi-faceted characteristic that is manifest in many different ways. In great orators, such as Winston Churchill and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it was evident in their ability to articulate ideas and inspire people. In great scientists and mathematicians, like Einstein, von Neumann and Gödel, it derives from a capacity to reason …
The sciences, and especially the natural sciences, demand a high mental discipline that is developed during a person’s early adult years. Most people who take on this challenge are emboldened by their early success in academics and on their self-perception as an intelligent person. Who would venture into the study of advanced calculus, inferential statistics …
The answer to this question depends to a large extent on how we characterize “charisma.” The term came from the ancient Greek word, χάρισμα meaning “a gift of grace” and was perceived to be a power bestowed by the gods. In the modern era, the term is used to describe someone who radiates a positive …
At the microcosmic level of brain processing, we know very little of how the brain develops conceptual understanding, although we know something about how memories and vocabulary are recorded. So, I’ll begin with what we do know and move into what we do not know, but the discussion will be at the macrocosmic rather than …
Perhaps, the best description of the difference between high intelligence and genius was captured by philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer in his famous quote, “Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see.” Einstein’s theories, for the most part, did not build upon previous theories in the evolutionary …
In recent years, some colleges and universities dropped the use of the SAT/ACT tests as part of their admissions program. In some cases, this was a decision based on ideology and in other cases, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, it was an attempt to reduce exposure to viral infection. Recently, some high-profile universities such as …
Asking, “Which is more important, education or intelligence?”, is somewhat like asking “Which wheels on a car are more important, the front wheels or the back wheels?” The answer is that they are both vital and they work together as vital components in achieving goals. Intelligence, without some degree of education, is merely unharnessed potential, …
Which has a greater impact: education or intelligence/ability/aptitude (IQ)? Read More »
How you explain a complex concept to someone depends vitally on two factors: that person’s level of knowledge on the concept and their receptiveness to an explanation. If the someone to whom you are explaining a concept is ready and eager to learn from you, it is necessary to assess only their level of knowledge …
The 41st presidential election featured the heavily favored Republican candidate, Governor Thomas E. Dewey, against the underdog, Harry S. Truman, the Democratic candidate. Three of the top polls, including the Gallop Poll, predicted that Dewey would be the winner by a significant margin. The polls were so trusted that the Chicago Daily Tribune printed its …
Jessica, this is an interesting question and it’s difficult to answer with any degree of precision because so many groundbreaking technologies or scientific discoveries are made by people of high IQ who also have some degree of social difficulty. In the past few centuries, scientific breakthroughs have come from renegades who “march to the tune …
