(2019-01-18, 09:41 PM)Sciborg_S_Patel Wrote: It's amusing that there is another consideration at play, simply that IQ testing beyond determining certain learning disabilities is nearly (completely?) worthless:
IQ is largely a pseudoscientific swindle
This debate seems to be - at least in its recent incarnation - in the early stages of argument so we'll have to wait and see what comes out of it. I wish Taleb could make an argument divorced from his personal belief in his own wittiness, though I have to admit I'd need a strong stats refresher to truly judge the merits of his argument.
Personally I've done incredibly well on certain tests only to do miserably in context & vice versa. I was almost held back in 2nd grade due to poor math scores but graduated w/ honors for my maths undergradutate. I'd blame my school system pre-college, and praise my college.
So personally I do think Taleb is correct that interest, what he calls "skin in the game", can make an incredible amount of difference. Same with thinking one has a "fresh start", abandoning doubt about one's ability.
But is any of the above in contradiction of "Darwinism"? I suppose the idea that mentality can have positive causal effects, this isn't technically an argument against materialism nor Darwinism.
Re. this discussion of social Darwinism and especially of IQ as to whether it is at least partially genetically determined and breedable, it seems to me that the extreme sensitivity of the issue and political correctness rule in the discussion. Perhaps that is best.