Blog

A forum for discussion ideas

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?

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?

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?

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?

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.

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 »

What made Einstein a genius? What knowledge did he possess that allowed him to Develop his Theory of Relativity and other groundbreaking ideas?

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 …

What made Einstein a genius? What knowledge did he possess that allowed him to Develop his Theory of Relativity and other groundbreaking ideas? Read More »

Is there a correlation between an individual’s IQ score and their academic achievement on tests such as the SAT, ACT, and GRE?

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 …

Is there a correlation between an individual’s IQ score and their academic achievement on tests such as the SAT, ACT, and GRE? Read More »

Which has a greater impact: education or intelligence/ability/aptitude (IQ)?

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 can you effectively explain a concept to someone with varying levels of intelligence and help them to understand your perspective?

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 …

How can you effectively explain a concept to someone with varying levels of intelligence and help them to understand your perspective? Read More »

Do you agree with Mark Z. Barabak that even the best polls are nothing more than an educated guess?

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 …

Do you agree with Mark Z. Barabak that even the best polls are nothing more than an educated guess? Read More »

Verified by MonsterInsights