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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 …

What are some surprising discoveries made through deductive reasoning? 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 »

How should we approach taking an IQ test? Should we trust our own answers or consider the opinions of others who may have more knowledge on the subject matter?

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The greatest danger in taking an IQ test is that you score below your potential through poor test management and spend the rest of your life undervaluing your own abilities. I’ll review a couple of the most common errors in test management and suggest remedies. The most common reason for an inaccurate measure of IQ …

How should we approach taking an IQ test? Should we trust our own answers or consider the opinions of others who may have more knowledge on the subject matter? Read More »

Can intelligence be measured in ways other than an IQ test? What does it mean to be considered “smarter” than Albert Einstein?

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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 …

Can intelligence be measured in ways other than an IQ test? What does it mean to be considered “smarter” than Albert Einstein? Read More »

Do scientists believe they are more intelligent than others due to their understanding of nature and other people?

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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 …

Do scientists believe they are more intelligent than others due to their understanding of nature and other people? Read More »

Can a person possess both high intelligence and charisma simultaneously, or do these traits contradict each other in some way?

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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 …

Can a person possess both high intelligence and charisma simultaneously, or do these traits contradict each other in some way? Read More »

How is the brain able to generalize knowledge and form compact concepts? While there are many trees, we all get the general concept of what a tree is, and could draw a rough sketch on command.

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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 …

How is the brain able to generalize knowledge and form compact concepts? While there are many trees, we all get the general concept of what a tree is, and could draw a rough sketch on command. Read More »

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