NationStates Jolt Archive

Does anyone believe that some nations have higher average iq than others? Is it possible that those on one side of a border are more intelligent than those on the other?

If so, which (RL) nation is the most intelligent?

http://members.shaw.ca/delajara/NationalIQs.html
http://www.vdare.com/sailer/wealth_of_nations.htm

Is it possible that those on one side of a border are more intelligent than those on the other?
no, but education levels may well change of course

according to these, there are differences in national av. iqs?????????????

but does national IQ matter? does it matter either way wether our mechanics and pilots know about history? it would make their lives a little more fun but wouldn't effect their impact on society or the ecconomy. its more important to have a few, well placed really really smart people than it is to have a lot of nominally smart people

but does national IQ matter? does it matter either way wether our mechanics and pilots know about history? it would make their lives a little more fun but wouldn't effect their impact on society or the ecconomy. its more important to have a few, well placed really really smart people than it is to have a lot of nominally smart people

Is it not best then to have just one, perfectly placed, perfectly smart person?

Is it not best then to have just one, perfectly placed, perfectly smart person?

if that were humanly possible, yes

if that were humanly possible, yes

How about a really, really, very powerful computer?

How about a really, really, very powerful computer?

too many possible downfalls, too hard to replace, too hard to change with the times

too many possible downfalls, too hard to replace, too hard to change with the times

The same goes for people.

Some nationalities are better educated on average, which may effect IQ scores since a lot of it is just how good you are at doing tests.

No one nationality is inherantly more intelligent than any other though.

Sure, you can have more intelligent people on one side of a border. Intelligence has to come from either genetics (and cellular makeup) or environment (anything you're exposed to, like life experiences or books). Different countries and regions have different environments, and some are probably more conducive to breeding intelligence among people, especially since some of the differences in environment include access to schooling and educational materials.

Even if intelligence comes from genetics, then it is still likely that you will attain more intelligent people on one side of a border. Different countries or regions usually contain different "races" of people... if intelligence is genetic then it is possibly connected to the genes that determine your "race." Also, if it's genetic it can be passed down to one's kids. In countries where an intelligent person lives, his or her kids will most likely also live there, as well as grandkids, etc.

In conclusion, I believe it is indeed possible for one country to have smarter people than another country, as a whole. Obviously though coming from a certain country does not guarantee intelligence or lack thereof, and someone from a "less intelligent" country could easily be more intelligent than a person from a "more intelligent" country.

Is it possible that those on one side of a border are more intelligent than those on the other?

no. unless 'intelligence' is not meant as some inborn unchanging entity, but is completely tied up with education and socialization.

humans everywhere are essentially the same in every respect. what few genetic differences there are between us do not in any way conform to the borders of nation-states.

Sure, you can have more intelligent people on one side of a border. Intelligence has to come from either genetics (and cellular makeup) or environment (anything you're exposed to, like life experiences or books). Different countries and regions have different environments, and some are probably more conducive to breeding intelligence among people, especially since some of the differences in environment include access to schooling and educational materials.

Even if intelligence comes from genetics, then it is still likely that you will attain more intelligent people on one side of a border. Different countries or regions usually contain different "races" of people... if intelligence is genetic then it is possibly connected to the genes that determine your "race." Also, if it's genetic it can be passed down to one's kids. In countries where an intelligent person lives, his or her kids will most likely also live there, as well as grandkids, etc.

In conclusion, I believe it is indeed possible for one country to have smarter people than another country, as a whole. Obviously though coming from a certain country does not guarantee intelligence or lack thereof, and someone from a "less intelligent" country could easily be more intelligent than a person from a "more intelligent" country.

Many well regarded academics have been publishing on this issue lately, arguing what you are saying. they use the example of Jews of European heritage – which on average they have an intelligence 10% higher than the average population and have more noble prize winners. 10% of these Jews have a natural immunity to HIV as do 1% of Caucasians. We are not all equal (though thankfully by right we are all equal before the law).

And the idea of having one or a handful of really smart people is dim-witted How many jobs, how many man hours can this one person do? Pilots should know history so they can participate in public affairs in an informed manner.

http://members.shaw.ca/delajara/NationalIQs.html
http://www.vdare.com/sailer/wealth_of_nations.htm


no, but education levels may well change of course


THis is a pile of steaming...

In fairness all IQ measurements do is measure how good you are at answering IQ tests.

And with all the bandying around of the word "intelligence" would someone care to define it so we know what is being measured here?

Lastly the points about one country having a better education system ergo having a higher IQ is rubbish also - Finland has the best secondary school system in the world (google the PISA reports) and it comes fairly low on the list.

In summary this whole thing is nothing more than a peeing contest - and for what - so one person can say my nation is better at answering very specific questions that in no way reflect what modern sociologist think education is and doesn't even touch on multiple intelligence theory, than yours! - woohoo!

Lastly the points about one country having a better education system ergo having a higher IQ is rubbish also - Finland has the best secondary school system in the world (google the PISA reports) and it comes fairly low on the list.
Out of boredom I did, and was quite surprised to read this when I looked up the Northern Ireland results...

"Students in Northern Ireland scored an average of 519 points on the reading
literacy scale,significantly higher than students in OECD countries as a whole,
where the mean score was set at 500.Northern Irish students were at a
similar level of achievement as those in,for example,Australia,New Zealand,
Japan and Sweden.In only two countries,Finland and Canada,did 15 year
olds do significantly better than in Northern Ireland.Students in Northern
Ireland did significantly better than students in many European countries,
including France and Germany.
Northern Irish students also did significantly better than the OECD average in
both mathematical and scientific literacy.Only Japan and Korea did
significantly better in mathematical literacy,and only Japan,Korea and
Finland in scientific literacy."

[/hijack]

How about a really, really, very powerful computer?
Umm... *hopes this is sarcasm*


http://www.vdare.com/sailer/wealth_of_nations.htm

That last page seemed WAY out of proportion.
Hong Kong; 107 Average- The Chinese have a problem keeping their average IQ at a high number, this is due to their social ideals that men should marry less intellegent women. This causes a decrese in IQ (being that 50% of IQ is supposedly contributed to genetics)... so I'm kinda not thinking Hong Kong has an average IQ of 107 O.o

and

Eq. Guinea; 59 Average- wow... is that possible?! To have a large portion of their society mentally retarded? :confused:

intelligence is pretty much evenly distributed across all humanity

but people in cultures that have no written language are far smarter than people in cultures that Do have a written language. they have to remember way more than we do.

Eq. Guinea; 59 Average- wow... is that possible?!

only if iq test do not measure what they claim to. which is one of the way that we know that they don't, actually.

Note how low the national IQ average is in the United States.

Why is that?

but does national IQ matter? does it matter either way wether our mechanics and pilots know about history? it would make their lives a little more fun but wouldn't effect their impact on society or the ecconomy. its more important to have a few, well placed really really smart people than it is to have a lot of nominally smart people

True in theory, but false in practice. You need intelligent/cultivated elector to vote for an intelligent president. Dumb people will just fall to propaganda and vote for the most charismatic candidate.

Anyway, more on the subject the IQ test is not really good as it base is result mostly on mathematical skill. This is why an urban man who use is brain daily for accounting/measure/... will usually perform better than an aboriginal using is brain for surviving the jungle.

I had thought that this study by Vanhanen had been comprehensively proven rubbish... seem to remember reading it a year plus or so ago. Quite a big fuss about it.

True in theory, but false in practice. You need intelligent/cultivated elector to vote for an intelligent president. Dumb people will just fall to propaganda and vote for the most charismatic candidate.


ok,
(1) dumb nations have charismatic presidents,

(2)noncharismatic presidents are probably intelligent nationals of an (3)intelligent nation

????

Now, how charismatic are those elected leaders?

...

What I meant is that a more educated/intelligent (and I don't consider diploma or IQ to be a reliable way to measure it) nation will most likely:
A) take more time to read/analyze/draw conclusion about politic and economic even in conjuncture with history and cultural background
B) Base there vote on the accomplishment/background/programs of the candidate

While less educated/intelligent nation will most likely:
A) Take less time to inform them self and keep a critical spirit about event simply because they don't care.
B) Base there vote on futile promise/propaganda/charisma

By charisma I mean how he handle public relation. Cesar made is population love him by organizing the best circus game ever. Hitler convinced a nation to adopt is crazy value even if he was pretty ugly.

Anyway, in my opinion any leader who can stay in power more than 2 years is pretty intelligent (or at least is close entourage). Building the most corrupt government can take just as much skill as creating the greatest nation ever.

Anyway, in my opinion any leader who can stay in power more than 2 years is pretty intelligent
In what kind of a system?

In what kind of a system?

Any,

Democratic, dictatorship, ultra-religious,...

But on second tough,
-Maybe not in a monarchy since most of the people will fallow you as long as they can eat, only because you inherited it without building/creating anything
-And make it 4 years instead of 2 since any leader who would "inherited" the power from a previous leader who created the system could take more than 2 years to screw it