Re: Britons smarter than the French
Quote:
Originally Posted by Watchman
Genetics, or at least heredity, is pretty irrelevant. "Intelligence is an aquired trait." It's one of those "use it or lose it" issues.
No, not exactly. Genetics do play a role. Fluid intelligence seems to be rather stable and independent of education. Those with a genetical advantage have a headstart on those without it (pun intended, but only for the insiders). The phrase "use it or lose it" refers more to the development of intelligence in old age.
Re: Britons smarter than the French
Not really. Intellectual stimulation is pretty useful and conductive to the developement and maintenance of what might be termed "cleverness" at every point, I understand. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," you know.
'Course, some people don't seem to get better anyway. It's still difficult to believe they're worse off as a result compared to what they'd be without such stimuli, though.
Re: Britons smarter than the French
Quote:
Originally Posted by Watchman
Not really. Intellectual stimulation is pretty useful and conductive to the developement and maintenance of what might be termed "cleverness" at every point, I understand. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," you know.
'Course, some people don't seem to get better anyway. It's still difficult to believe they're worse off as a result compared to what they'd be without such stimuli, though.
Of course intellectual stimulation is useful. It can even prolong your life. But that doesn't warrant the conclusion that hereditary influences have no effect. In fact, evidence says that the heritability of intelligence currently increases in the Western world!
Re: Britons smarter than the French
"Pretty irrelevant" and "has no effect" aren't synonyms, you know. Anyway, I'd bet my money on the supposed "heritability of intelligence currently increasing in the Western world" more on the effects home environment has on personal developement and aquired values, remembering the little detail that aquired traits aren't very biologically hereditary. Case in point: my mother's academic career and my constant exposure to it at home must've had quite a beneficial effect to my degree of "intelligence", however now exactly defined.
Re: Britons smarter than the French
The evidence doesn't allow to conclude that intelligence is an acquired trait. Sure it's not by far only genetics, but both genetics and environment have important influences.