Comments on: When scientists get old and boring… http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/ Inspired by those who ask "why?" and dedicated to those who say "because..." Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:24:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: choice first med online pharmacy http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-286 choice first med online pharmacy Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:07:35 +0000 http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-286 licensed online pharmacy online pharmacy top xanax online pharmacy no prescription add online pharmacy site <a href="http://pills-cashe.com/" rel="nofollow">choice first med online pharmacy</a> online pharmacy site suggest online pharmacy top adderall online pharmacy lortab online pharmacy licensed online pharmacy online pharmacy top xanax online pharmacy no prescription add online pharmacy site choice first med online pharmacy online pharmacy site suggest online pharmacy top adderall online pharmacy lortab online pharmacy

]]> By: Ghayth Hosni http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-275 Ghayth Hosni Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:56:41 +0000 http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-275 notebook pda <a href="http://nout1.com/" rel="nofollow">buy notebook today</a> 5113 as5715z 1a1g08mi nout notebook pda buy notebook today 5113 as5715z 1a1g08mi nout

]]> By: V http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-206 V Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:48:09 +0000 http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-206 AJ: "Take an average kid of any race and immerse him in an intellectually stimulating and nurturing environment, and he will most likely turn out pretty smart, if not Einstein." but does each race produces the same proportion of average kids ? That's what Watson says we have no reason to believe in. Quote:“There is no firm reason to anticipate that the intellectual capacities of peoples geographically separated in their evolution should prove to have evolved identically. Our wanting to reserve equal powers of reason as some universal heritage of humanity will not be enough to make it so.” IOW, evolution doesn't produce equality AJ: "Does this mean Asian kids are genetically smarter than European/White Caucasian kids? Of course not." but east asians always come on top. Only a very persistent socio-environmental factor could perhaps explain this. AJ:
“Take an average kid of any race and immerse him in an intellectually stimulating and nurturing environment, and he will most likely turn out pretty smart, if not Einstein.”

but does each race produces the same proportion of average kids ? That’s what Watson says we have no reason to believe in. Quote:“There is no firm reason to anticipate that the intellectual capacities of peoples geographically separated in their evolution should prove to have evolved identically. Our wanting to reserve equal powers of reason as some universal heritage of humanity will not be enough to make it so.”

IOW, evolution doesn’t produce equality

AJ:
“Does this mean Asian kids are genetically smarter than European/White Caucasian kids? Of course not.”

but east asians always come on top. Only a very persistent socio-environmental factor could perhaps explain this.

]]> By: Revathi http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-131 Revathi Sun, 21 Oct 2007 04:14:42 +0000 http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-131 @suchi ..For me, intelligent people can use more mental/brain thinking ability to do what ever they do better than others. It can be anything but should involve brain. @Kapiltalist .. regarding example of impoverished person of bangladesh, we all know that all sections of indian society were not exposed to intelleluctal activities for centuries( read castism). So there will be difference in the inborn intelligence of various groups in India. @suchi ..For me, intelligent people can use more mental/brain thinking ability to do what ever they do better than others. It can be anything but should involve brain.

@Kapiltalist .. regarding example of impoverished person of bangladesh, we all know that all sections of indian society were not exposed to intelleluctal activities for centuries( read castism). So there will be difference in the inborn intelligence of various groups in India.

]]> By: Suchi http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-127 Suchi Sat, 20 Oct 2007 14:41:44 +0000 http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-127 The problem is the idea of intelligence all right. Not only can you improve your IQ, a lot of what we consider IQ (and even EQ) is tested or guaged using modern/western ideologies. If there were a test of intelligence that was derived from say, a culture rooted in nature, who would score best? Would such an IQ test would rate someone's applied knowledge of plants and animals? Would such an EQ test evaluate one's ability to communicate with animals or live in a tribe? The problem is the idea of intelligence all right.

Not only can you improve your IQ, a lot of what we consider IQ (and even EQ) is tested or guaged using modern/western ideologies. If there were a test of intelligence that was derived from say, a culture rooted in nature, who would score best? Would such an IQ test would rate someone’s applied knowledge of plants and animals? Would such an EQ test evaluate one’s ability to communicate with animals or live in a tribe?

]]> By: Patrix http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-123 Patrix Fri, 19 Oct 2007 19:02:37 +0000 http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-123 Yup! the exact problem is in operationalizing intelligence which is not necessarily something for only (pure) science to define but rather is a prerogative of sociology and humanities. @Rajat and Revathi, how would you define intelligence? Is a doctor more 'intelligent' than an artist or author, like it is perceived in India? <a href="http://www.ipatrix.com/that-rotating-girl/" rel="nofollow">That rotating girl</a> has shown us (correctly or not)that we use different sides of our brains to do the thing we do best. Yup! the exact problem is in operationalizing intelligence which is not necessarily something for only (pure) science to define but rather is a prerogative of sociology and humanities.

@Rajat and Revathi, how would you define intelligence? Is a doctor more ‘intelligent’ than an artist or author, like it is perceived in India? That rotating girl has shown us (correctly or not)that we use different sides of our brains to do the thing we do best.

]]> By: Ashutosh http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-122 Ashutosh Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:45:04 +0000 http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-122 Well, for one thing, things like heart disease and smoking tendencies can be quantified. I quite agree that it is political correctness that prohibits science from holding forth on things like the genetic basis of intelligence. The great thing about science is of course that the truth is always revealed, if not sooner then later. I agree with you that the issue of race and intelligence is especially volatile because of history and politics. Well, for one thing, things like heart disease and smoking tendencies can be quantified. I quite agree that it is political correctness that prohibits science from holding forth on things like the genetic basis of intelligence. The great thing about science is of course that the truth is always revealed, if not sooner then later. I agree with you that the issue of race and intelligence is especially volatile because of history and politics.

]]> By: rajat http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-121 rajat Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:33:34 +0000 http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-121 There isn't a more effective argument to ignore potentially politically incorrect statements than the catch-all phrase 'there's no scientific proof for it'. It saves everyone's blushes, and to hell with whether science will ever answer it simply because science will not be allowed to answer it. After all science is hostage to political correctness like everything else and no one wants science poking into uncomfortable matters like genes v/s intelligence. What amazes me is how conveniently we agree to the genetic factor in instances of Heart diseases, diabetes, even things like who has a higher likelihood of taking up smoking. Then the celeberated instances of genes factoring into sports like boxing, athletics etc which has a large presence of athletes of African origin. And there are numerous instances more. But when it comes to even remotely suggesting genes as a factor in intelligence, then all hell breaks loose. There isn’t a more effective argument to ignore potentially politically incorrect statements than the catch-all phrase ‘there’s no scientific proof for it’. It saves everyone’s blushes, and to hell with whether science will ever answer it simply because science will not be allowed to answer it. After all science is hostage to political correctness like everything else and no one wants science poking into uncomfortable matters like genes v/s intelligence.

What amazes me is how conveniently we agree to the genetic factor in instances of Heart diseases, diabetes, even things like who has a higher likelihood of taking up smoking. Then the celeberated instances of genes factoring into sports like boxing, athletics etc which has a large presence of athletes of African origin. And there are numerous instances more.

But when it comes to even remotely suggesting genes as a factor in intelligence, then all hell breaks loose.

]]> By: Ashutosh http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-120 Ashutosh Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:55:09 +0000 http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-120 I think he would have been on a relatively safer platform if he had not mentioned "intelligence". In any case, such comments will get you nowhere these days. I think he would have been on a relatively safer platform if he had not mentioned “intelligence”. In any case, such comments will get you nowhere these days.

]]> By: Kapiltalist http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-119 Kapiltalist Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:01:56 +0000 http://www.desipundit.com/ashutosh/2007/10/18/when-scientists-get-old-and-boring/#comment-119 I am now curious to read what Watson actually said. In the two places where the linked article quotes him, he does not even mention genes anywhere. And fact of the matter is, I share his prognosis for Africa. Misgovernance, impoverishment, genocides, population explosion, AIDS, - its all horrifying actually. I am now curious to read what Watson actually said. In the two places where the linked article quotes him, he does not even mention genes anywhere.

And fact of the matter is, I share his prognosis for Africa. Misgovernance, impoverishment, genocides, population explosion, AIDS, - its all horrifying actually.

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