http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn0PVk8muFc

I think that unbeknownst to the rest of the world, they take the stupid ones that are born and kick them out, giving them names like Smith, Johnson, and Jones, among many others. By weening out the stupid ones, and breeding between the smart ones, it gives them a more intelligent blood-line.

On the other hand, America takes those stupid ones and knowing them only by Jacksons, Davidsons and Thomas's (among so many other names) we make them celebrities and worship them.

I don't think that there is an IQ difference between any groups of people AT BIRTH. What happens after birth determines their intellectual path. Those who enjoy stimulating games and activities at youth, and who are encouraged to go into higher education, will invariably be smarter than those who do nothing but watch TV all day or do drugs.

Rita McBride wrote:I don't think that there is an IQ difference between any groups of people AT BIRTH. What happens after birth determines their intellectual path. Those who enjoy stimulating games and activities at youth, and who are encouraged to go into higher education, will invariably be smarter than those who do nothing but watch TV all day or do drugs.

A study of infant IQs of course doesn't exist, nor I'm sure has anyone done a study of Jewish 10-year-olds vs. youngsters from other groups. In addition, no one, probably, argues against the importance of nurture and environment in individual achievement. But there appears still to be something unexplained in the statistic of 20% of Nobel Prize winners being Jewish. Jews constitute 0.2% of the world's population. Is the Jewish way of nurture that far out in front?

We've understandably reacted strongly against any theories that place one racial group above others regarding certain abilities. But groups of humans in evolutionary history did have many thousands of years to develop as distinct populations, facing different environments. Why should some of them not have evolved to different levels of physical or mental abilities, similar to to the differences in physical appearance?

It might today be less controversial to say that humans of African heritage have physical attributes that give them an edge in some of today's most popular sports. It still is verboten to suggest that a group might have an advantage in the intellectual realm.

Great post, DWill.

We're so caught up in being politically correct these days that we refuse to think about or discuss certain topics. Beliefs are sacred and off limit. The moment someone says "I believe" we're to back off and respect whatever comes out of their mouth next.

It isn't that much of a stretch to consider that the human brain has evolved differently in different environments.

Some factors in Jewish intellectual success.

Israel is located at the continental meeting point of Europe, Asia and Africa, forcing development of political negotiation skills among its inhabitants, dealing with people from all corners of the world. My view is that this geopolitics enabled the monotheist security dogma of Israel, with God imagined as providing the guidance that would save Israel from conquest.

The unique ancient position of the Jews in Israel as a global melting pot led to them acquiring specific intellectual skills, which were resented by others. These skills were reinforced by the ban on Jews owning land in Europe, hothousing the development of urban capitalist industries in banking, jewellery, science and media.

Robert Tulip wrote:Some factors in Jewish intellectual success.

Israel is located at the continental meeting point of Europe, Asia and Africa, forcing development of political negotiation skills among its inhabitants, dealing with people from all corners of the world. My view is that this geopolitics enabled the monotheist security dogma of Israel, with God imagined as providing the guidance that would save Israel from conquest.

The unique ancient position of the Jews in Israel as a global melting pot led to them acquiring specific intellectual skills, which were resented by others. These skills were reinforced by the ban on Jews owning land in Europe, hothousing the development of urban capitalist industries in banking, jewellery, science and media.

These are actually some very, very good thoughts.

DWill wrote:
We've understandably reacted strongly against any theories that place one racial group above others regarding certain abilities. But groups of humans in evolutionary history did have many thousands of years to develop as distinct populations, facing different environments. Why should some of them not have evolved to different levels of physical or mental abilities, similar to to the differences in physical appearance?

It might today be less controversial to say that humans of African heritage have physical attributes that give them an edge in some of today's most popular sports. It still is verboten to suggest that a group might have an advantage in the intellectual realm.

You're right that few studies about IQ among different races were ever made. The thing is, Jews are not a race. Just look at Israel: there are blond Israelis, brunettes, black, white, middle-eastern, Persians, etc. There is little similarity between these sub-groups in Judaism. Originally, they came from Judea, but have mixed with local populations until today there is little left of this common thread. European Jews have traditionally been pushed to more cerebral professions because in most European countries they were not allowed to own land. Over the years, this has made them more inclined to scholarly pursuits than the rest of the European population. As far as I know, few non-European Jews ever won Nobel prizes or received any significant academic recognition. This is because land limitations existed only in Europe.

I see high IQ individuals with loser jobs all the time. Being intelligent is only part of the equation if we're talking about winning a Nobel. You also need motivation. I think something in the Jewish religion/society puts more pressure on individuals to apply themselves. Not just to be successful, but to find and harness internal motivation.