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from the maybe-they-only-surveyed-the-nimnobs dept.
Why can we talk about PISA results, comparing the performance of students in school, but we are not allowed to talk about differences in IQ? Bring this subject up, and you are immediately accused of racism. And yet. And yet, if there are substantial differences in intellectual capability, might this not explain some of the world's problems?
An update of a massive "study of studies" is underway; this article summarizes the work to date, and provides links to the work in progress. A quick summary of the answers to the questions no one dares ask:
- Eastern Asia (Japan, China): IQ around 105
- Europe/North America: IQ around 98
- Middle East: IQ around 85
- Africa: IQ around 70
In the first instance, it doesn't even matter why there are differences. They may be genetic, or disease related, or nutrition related, or something else. If these differences are real (and the evidence is pretty strong that they are), then we need to deal with them. Imagine if the low IQs in Africa turn out to be fixable - what would the impact be, if we could raise the IQ of an entire continent by 30 points?!
Sticking our collective heads in the sand, because the topic is not PC, is not going to solve any problems.
(Score: 1) by Arik on Friday November 03 2017, @12:23AM
As to the meat of your comment, this is a common meme and as often happens it's not *entirely* false. It's certainly not entirely correct Either. It originates in a comparison of certain parts of the enormous regions mentioned. It's a valid comparison for specific parts. Both Africa and Eurasia are much, much too big and 'diverse' (I hate that's become a buzzword but it's exactly the right word here) for any comparison that broad to be anything but nonsense, however.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?