programmaticaIs intelligence a genetic trait in any way shape or form?
∟⊔⊤∦∣≶Let’s start out by defining intelligence and an accurate way to measure it.
ScrubblesYeah for all we know of is one of those guys who took an IQ test online and now has it in all of his social media bios.
Genetics have a genetic component. Every single test we have that attempts to measure intelligence that we’ve checked for heritability shows that intelligence likely has a generic component. Furthermore, we know that some species are more intelligent than others. Given the demonstrable existence of Darwinian evolution, this implies that some populations of a species are more or less intelligent than another because that’s a requirement for a speciation event that results in a species that’s more intelligent than its cousin species.
Conversely be on guard against people that say this proves any particular population, especially based on specific phenotypes, is inherently more or less intelligent than any other. They most likely also have an ideological axe to grind.
That besides the fact that, as another commenter mentioned “intelligence” is a pretty nebulous term to begin with.
This exactly. Intelligence being heritable does not imply that any one particular population is more intelligent on average than another.
“intelligence” is a pretty nebulous term to begin with
This is also accurate, but I’m glossing over that because it’s late and that fact is only tangentially relevant to the question.
Does that apply to intelligence as a whole or does it vary for different skills (i.e. logical reasoning like math vs more creative skills like reading/writing.
Go ask a chimpanzee 😆
Okay, so forgive the glib answer, but yeah, obviously on the macro level our genetic differences with the other apes obviously contribute to our difference in
I’m intoxicated so fuck me.
Yes. There is a genetic link to IQ.
IQ doesn’t test all kinds of intelligence though.
Iirc, you can alter your IQ, just as you can expand your other intelligence areas acumen.
In developing a specific intelligence acument (verbal, logic, interpersonal, nature, et al), you increase the odds that your offspring develop similar acumen
Iirc this finding is significantly leaning towards nurture, and not nature (,genetic)
Anyways cheers goodnight someone smarter than me please correct and source if you’re diligent and stuff
Yes general intelligence is related to genes. Two important caveats:
Don’t forget the environment. See the Flynn effect, according to which measures of general intelligence have risen over time, showing the effect of the environment. This is just like height. The Dutch were once amongst the shortest people in Europe, and now they’re amongst the tallest. It’s true that they are tall now, in part, because of their genes, but, since they used to be short, obviously there’s much more to height than just genes. The best genes won’t help an unwatered seed sprout. Someone with low intelligence now might have the genes of a genius, if only they had received an education.
Racists are still wrong. There is an overwhelming consensus that there is no genetic basis for race. There is no gene or set of genes or distribution of genes that all and only members of a race have. In fact, there is more genetic variation within races than between races!
Genetics is a scientific concept.
Intelligence is an unscientific concept.
My personal take is that intelligence is much like muscular strength. Genetics probably play a role but the more important factor is how you use and train your cognitive strength. A cognitively sedentary person will almost always be less intelligent than a cognitively active person, I doubt genetics play a large role unless we’re talking about people who put similar levels of effort into their development and upkeep.
SmokeyDopeNo I don’t think so. Its definitely more of an enviromental upbringinf and personality predisposition thing. Some people just simply aren’t heavy thinkers or curious about anything. They live their life one day at a time in the moment without really contemplating anything. Its not genetic inheritances, its just how they choose to be/are.
colonialYes. We have plenty of studies indicating that IQ deviation (for lack of a better measurement) is heritable.
This is even observable casually - plenty of people gossip about having a history of Darwin award attempts, or how is stuffed with straight-A engineering students.
However, it’s only a component, not the whole story.
It’s also going to be very dependant on upbringing which usually would go hand in hand, if someone grows up rich going to all the best schools and getting all the opportunities, not having to work when young etc they’re probably going to end up more academically intelligent than someone who grew up in a family just barely getting by