Behind the growing Steven Pinker vs. Malcolm Gladwell feud (
Pinker criticizes Gladwell,
Gladwell snarkily replies) is a debate over the value of IQ, specifically, and intelligence, broadly, in success. Recent research has generally shown
little link between intelligence and success within fields, and that there are
multiple kinds of intelligences that drive achievement. On the other hand,
scholars of psychometrics claim the opposite, showing that
IQ at an early age can predict achievement, and
no amount of study will help.
Maybe everyone is right, with enough caveats.
posted by blahblahblah
on Nov 16, 2009 -
147 comments
In sixteenth-century Paris, a popular form of entertainment was cat-burning, in which a cat was hoisted in a sling on a stage and slowly lowered into a fire. According to historian Norman Davies, "[T]he spectators, including kings and queens, shrieked with laughter as the animals, howling with pain, were singed, roasted, and finally carbonized." Today, such sadism would be unthinkable in most of the world. This change in sensibilities is just one example of perhaps the most important and most underappreciated trend in the human saga: Violence has been in decline over long stretches of history, and today we are probably living in
the most peaceful moment of our species' time on earth. [pdf]
via NPR
posted by bigmusic
on Apr 14, 2007 -
145 comments
