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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 »
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
