Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!watmath!att!dptg!rutgers!usc!orion.cf.uci.edu!uci-ics!zardoz!mti!jarthur!kaydin From: kaydin@jarthur.Claremont.EDU (the vampire) Newsgroups: comp.ai Subject: Re: IQ is not static, genetic differences inconsequential. Message-ID: <1685@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> Date: 7 Aug 89 17:41:42 GMT References: <3549@csd4.milw.wisc.edu> <4431@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu> <3558@csd4.milw.wisc.edu> <504@dcdwest.UUCP> <3612@csd4.milw.wisc.edu> <6899@sdcsvax.UCSD.Edu> <865@ciss.Dayton.NCR.COM> Reply-To: kaydin@jarthur.UUCP (the vampire) Organization: Center for Orgasm Research, La Honda, Calif. Lines: 37 In article <865@ciss.Dayton.NCR.COM> dbruck@ciss.UUCP (Don Bruck@ciss.Dayton.NCR.COM) writes: > >Genetics seem to give us animals a certain start in life. Hairiness, height, >propensity to addictive behaviors. It therefore gives the basics for >the development of intelligence. Therefore, if this propositon is correct, I >am able to learn certain problem types better than other problem types because >the selection process of my ancestors has limited my genes to solving the >problems that were most important to their society. Following this we may find >that *statistically* people of Chinese descent are better at solving a x-type >problems than people of Germanic descent. For this to be the case, the inability to solve x-type problems would have to prevent the given race from breeding successfully. Culture would play much more of a role than genetics. i.e. because of the way Culture Y has taught me to think and learn, I am better at solving problems of type X. Physical properties may work differently. The environment of one society may have killed anyone who didn't have a certain strength, while those living in gentler climes may not have been so affected. Also, perhaps the stronger would breed more successfully (the alpha male idea). But I see little evidence that the same is true for intelligence. In history, those with the greatest intelligence may be better at solving problem X, but this does not increase their breeding chances greatly. Does anyone have an example of a society where this HAS been the case? I would be interested in hearing about this. -kerim aydin -- "After a time, they all went away. |kaydin@jarthur.claremont.edu Except the cops. |kaydin@hmcvax.bitnet No way has been invented to |!uunet!muddcs!jarthur!kaydin say goodbye to them." |or send mail by W.A.S.T.E.