Re: "It's uncertain whether intelligence has any long term

From: Malcolm (malcolm_at_55bank.freeserve.co.uk)
Date: 07/29/04 

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 15:50:34 +0000 (UTC)

"John Edser" <edser@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
>
> > HT: If you define intelligence as the ability that IQ tests measure
> > for instance, then there is still "something to be discovered",..
>
> JE:-
> There most certainly is "something to be discovered".
> If you define intelligence "as the ability that IQ
> tests measure" then you have proven yourself unintelligent.
> A significantly higher correlation between members of
> society that have proven themselves to be in the elite of
> a _diverse_ range of accomplishments and IQ does not
> exist.
>
The IQ test was designed to identify children who were falling behind in
their education so they could be given extra help. Inevitably people then
began to focus on high scores and different averages between groups. However
this isn't what the test was intended for. For instance if a British ten
year old doesn't know that the Queen is head of state, then some remedial
education is called for. If the reason is that he is a recent immigrant from
America then remedial education is still called for. However we couldn't use
this question to meaningfully measure differences in ability between Britons
and Americans.

As evolutionary biologists, or at least people with an interest in
evolution, we are often asked about intelligence and race. It is very
important to avoid pandering to political prejudices here, whether from
people who assert that all differences must necessarily be entirely
cultural, or from people who want an excuse to stir up racial conflict.

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