Human race is losing inteligence.

[CrimsonKing]

let me tell you a story . once upon a time ,one was with its space, unique and a single being of cell . later that day, meny cells collected togather is the meny of a kind... the meny of a kind was unique and a single being of cells .

later that day the cells on the left became diffrent than the cells of the right ... unique within the meny , collections of uniqueness with in.... then the collective of meny... then the uniqueness of one ... then the collective of meny... then the uniqueness of one... and then the change to the collective of meny... then the change to uniqueness of the one ...

man as the solo act , working as a self complete being with out need of civil contracts ... to ... the team player who works as a member of a unit... to... a civil contract of city and culture .... to ... loyalty and nation being...

we are not getting stupid , we are becoming specialists .... what you see as a weakness , i see as civil glue , binding us togather ... uniqueness explored , held togather by the raw force of needing others for the very air you breath , food you eat , lives played out.... the problem is... we do not have the right to repell those with out the same civil contract ... the preditors who see the civil contract of specialists as a flaw , and the way of the jungle as the true law . it is the history of the human race , the higher evolved beings , being riped to peices by the fools and stupid ... who think being very focused is a flaw...

Using this logic i look around and see more unhealthy cells anymore than healthy,which has started to turn into a cancerous tumor that has started to spread through the body and eat it alive.There is becoming more and more people who cannot do anything for themselves and depend on others knowledge and abilities to do it for them.Who knows what the final outcome will be,but at this pace we are headed for trouble sooner or later.

[Asadora]

I think this subject also comes down to what some consider intelligence.Some people are better with modern technology than others,and some are better at critical skills.

I have some knowledge about computers and current tech,but others i am sure on this site blow my limited amount away.Though when talking about the human body and/or ways to heal it,survival skills like how to hunt,fish,grow food,and basically live of the land i would bet i know more than most of the techies.Many now days prefer to specialize in what they learn,i prefer to learn some of everything i can remember lol

In regards to this, for me... I just want to improve my natural functions and be aware enough to know when or how I need to be resourceful. I think that even without our current technology we could rely on our built in programming. I know that perhaps that may sound a bit rose-tinted; however, I believe that no matter how we -became to be- and no matter who/what/if/or something either helped to create us or did indeed create us, that we were instilled with the information we already need to have in order to survive regardless of how 'mentally dumb' we become. I think less technology and more actual human interaction would be one thing that could broaden all of our awarenesses. (As I type that on the Internet.)

There is more to us, Humans than just -being Human- for we are all made of stardust and that's some awesome stuff!

[CrimsonKing]

In regards to this, for me... I just want to improve my natural functions and be aware enough to know when or how I need to be resourceful. I think that even without our current technology we could rely on our built in programming. I know that perhaps that may sound a bit rose-tinted; however, I believe that no matter how we -became to be- and no matter who/what/if/or something either helped to create us or did indeed create us, that we were instilled with the information we already need to have in order to survive regardless of how 'mentally dumb' we become. I think less technology and more actual human interaction would be one thing that could broaden all of our awarenesses. (As I type that on the Internet.)

There is more to us, Humans than just -being Human- for we are all made of stardust and that's some awesome stuff!

Not rose tinted at all,we are another animal after all.We have instincts but instincts must be used,refined if you will.If someone uses these instincts on a regular basis they become natural as breathing,if not ever used when they are needed it can cost precious time that may not be available.

[Jinxdom]

Not that I'm questioning this particular Einstein quote, but has anyone else ever wondered if Einstein really said all the things that get attributed to him on the internet?

Lol no but look up the Einstein and Hitler quote test. http://reverent.org/einstein_or_hitler.html It's funny yet scary

What hurts my head the most about this whole thing are the people who just memorize things and become nothing more then walking books(Last time I checked books are only useful when being used by people).

[AsteroidX]

We have computers to read books for us now and send down the cliffnotes. Why so serious.

[Jinxdom]

I loved cliffnotes during school gave me time to actual read good books =D

[Ad hoc]

well it kinda has to degrade. without the pressure of natural selection, entropy does its work: There are many more ways to have a pile of slop in your head than to have a well ordered structure, so noise is going to enter the system. anyway, we'll surely start modifying ourselves before it ever drops very low.

Even if it did drop low enough we'd probably end up in a tribal situation where competition would likely drive it back up again- competition amongst ourselves being the probable mechanism that drove us so far beyond other animals in the first place.

Edited February 25, 2013 by Ad hoc

[Professor T]

we are not getting stupid , we are becoming specialists .... what you see as a weakness , i see as civil glue , binding us togather ...

This civil glue is not binding very well.. I like your overall picture in the post but here is where it all come's un-stuck imo..

In a world full of specialists it only takes the loss of one aspect of specialisation for the entire civil machine to collapse..

That's not very smart.

Edited February 25, 2013 by Professor T

[Render]

I think technology has a lot to answer for too.

I'm a mathematical dunce thank's to my calculator..

So one as to wonder if I wouldn't be such a dunce with numbers if didn't own a calculator..

Perhaps if there were no calculators you'd simply ask someone else to do it.

[Render]

We should tighten up our problem-solving skills. I apologize for that. I read somewhere that humans' alleged loss of intelligence and/or knowledge was linked to the fact that technology did more work for us after the advent of the computerized age. Our brains got less exercise. It was like how modern communication and transportation made some members of past generations less fit because they weren't forced to exercise their bodies as much as pre-car and pre-phone people were. We now have calculators, spell-check, global-positioning, etc. that replace skills that improve with use. On a related note, I read that today's children first learned to tie their shoes at older ages than their elders did. The story also claimed that they were behind in motor skills.

A different kind of intelligence doesn't mean a more dumb intelligence.

New generations are learning to think on a different level. For example: before you had the generations that built the computers and gave the starting point. Now the inquiring minds find ways to built things with computers, manipulate software.

Creating software is also building, and the new generations learn it as a mother language.

[scowl]

What hurts my head the most about this whole thing are the people who just memorize things and become nothing more then walking books(Last time I checked books are only useful when being used by people).

These people are extremely useful for pub trivia. I knew which element had the highest melting point and it took my team to victory!

[No Censorship]

A different kind of intelligence doesn't mean a more dumb intelligence.

New generations are learning to think on a different level. For example: before you had the generations that built the computers and gave the starting point. Now the inquiring minds find ways to built things with computers, manipulate software.

Creating software is also building, and the new generations learn it as a mother language.

That's a good point. We can be mentally "ambidextrous", though. We can learn to be both a computer programmer and a mechanic, get all kinds of cerebral exercise for all kinds of possibilities. You never know when the grid will get hit by something.

[No Censorship]

could you elaborate that context maybe a bit? i am in a state before my first coffee and didn't get that texting thing....THX

There are two other things that aren't in my first reply. It's not just about language skills. Texting, while driving or walking, can lead to tragic or unfortunate consequences. It also sometimes takes the place of healthy human interaction, which is necessary for good emotional health, as well as needed verbal communication skills.

[TheSearcher]

It's something I said in another thread, about more or less the same issue, but then in context of technology and the internet rather, but it can work here as well.

I tend towards helping, rather than hindering. I know you and seeder find it differently, but hear me out. I was watching a science program the other day and the presenter asked a neurologist and general brain specialist the exact same question. According to both it doesn't actually hider us, rather than lets our brain use the opened up space and processing power to different things. As they said, we might not know the numbers anymore, but we know how to get to them easily. Same for the internet for example. We know how to retrieve the needed information easily, as opposed to reading an entire book for one bit of info, we retrieve the info we need more directly, more focused if you will.

I could be wrong, but I don't think we are less innovative, but innovations have become more complicated and require more time and brain power, also more technical know-how. Hence we free up space and processing power in our brain and apply it differently with different priorities. And I remember the show now, it was "Dara O'Briain's Science Club" Forth episode if I'm not mistaken.

[Rocketgirl]

well it kinda has to degrade. without the pressure of natural selection, entropy does its work: There are many more ways to have a pile of slop in your head than to have a well ordered structure, so noise is going to enter the system. anyway, we'll surely start modifying ourselves before it ever drops very low.

Even if it did drop low enough we'd probably end up in a tribal situation where competition would likely drive it back up again- competition amongst ourselves being the probable mechanism that drove us so far beyond other animals in the first place.

In a prefect world I would like to believe that things will just fix itself. However, looking around at some of these people and their offsprings doesn't give me hope that,that will happen. But that's just my opinion. I'm losing hope when it comes to humanity and it's intelligence because I think if we get too dumb then that's it. I hear people say all the time that you can't fix stupid. However, like I said I want to believe that what you said in your post would happen and put us on the right track again if/when it comes to that point.

[Frank Merton]

I really don't think there is much difference between a socialist and a publicly owned enterprise. Privately owned enterprises may be different, but they tend to be smaller more efficient less corrupt operations where the employees are trusted because they are relatives.

[Frank Merton]

Humanity will continue to evolve, in ways we like and in ways we don't like, and whatever, it will tend to sneak up on us. Natural selection is not worried about the health of our society but only about what genes get into the next generation.

[CrimsonKing]

Humanity will continue to evolve, in ways we like and in ways we don't like, and whatever, it will tend to sneak up on us. Natural selection is not worried about the health of our society but only about what genes get into the next generation.

You are correct frank as we say around here "it is what it is" The brain should be exercised and trained though my opinion of training the brain is what people who create things such as the internet,smart phones,and other tech are doing.The people who sit back and rely on a calculator,google search,and their cell phones for gps are not thinking and exercising their brains anymore.This is the majority,no offense meant to the people who use these things i am on the net right now i enjoy talking to other people with different ideas,but with the majority now days having zero critical skills for survival i tend to feel bad for the next generations people who receive these genes.If any major cataclysmic event happened 95% of the people i have ever known would have no clue how to make it after 3 days.

[Asadora]

Personally, I think overall the vast majority of us has this disappointing view of Human intelligence and what level it will eventually reside. As thought-provoking as this thread is, there is the following in which I would like to add:

In addition to mental intelligence, where do we stand on emotional intelligence? If we were to incorporate more compassion to others, could that in itself free us 'mentally' enough to stop pretending to know what we actually do not know therefore allowing for more honest ways of intelligence?

I suppose, simply I mean that if we stopped judging others based on what they either do know or do not know, then perhaps our emotional intelligence could grow enough to foundate a more accurate sense of our overall intelligence.

An yes, I do assure you that I have had my coffee this morning;)

[CrimsonKing]

Personally, I think overall the vast majority of us has this disappointing view of Human intelligence and what level it will eventually reside. As thought-provoking as this thread is, there is the following in which I would like to add:

In addition to mental intelligence, where do we stand on emotional intelligence? If we were to incorporate more compassion to others, could that in itself free us 'mentally' enough to stop pretending to know what we actually do not know therefore allowing for more honest ways of intelligence?

I suppose, simply I mean that if we stopped judging others based on what they either do know or do not know, then perhaps our emotional intelligence could grow enough to foundate a more accurate sense of our overall intelligence.

An yes, I do assure you that I have had my coffee this morning;)

It is a increasing view that either we are becoming less intelligent,causing global warming,wiping out species or are becoming less caring as a species.Perhaps you are correct asadora maybe as a species we have become emotionally dead,we have become numb to everything and everyone.This might be our problem,but how do we correct it?Drink a lot more coffee and get back to me! jk you do make a good point though

[Frank Merton]

I read Plato and have no trouble understanding him, and even wanting to argue with him, and I think I'm fairly typical of educated people everywhere. Conclusion: we are not getting dumber.

[CrimsonKing]

I read Plato and have no trouble understanding him, and even wanting to argue with him, and I think I'm fairly typical of educated people everywhere. Conclusion: we are not getting dumber.

I have read alot more than most my age have or will ever read and i am at a point where i am not sure frank.Maybe where you live they are not getting dumber,where i live the proof is in what you see on a daily basis.Yes 50 years ago people could speak proper english,people could answer 12x12,people could answer who was the 3rd pres of the USA.Not many can without a computer anymore frank.Not here anymore.

[Frank Merton]

You are referring to education rather than intelligence, and it is widely understood that US education has gone downhill, at least for the general public (the US still turns out a well-educated elite -- the ones who become professionals).

[CrimsonKing]

You are referring to education rather than intelligence, and it is widely understood that US education has gone downhill, at least for the general public (the US still turns out a well-educated elite -- the ones who become professionals).

OK they have no critical skills or education yet they are are not dumber as a whole?This makes no sense to me frank enlighten me.

[Frank Merton]

Studies here of different educational systems have shown that the US system is good at educating what one might call the elite -- the smart kids with involved parents -- and kinda abandons the rest -- just warehouses them to keep them off the streets and out of their parents' hair.

This is a natural consequence of several things, the first being the difficulty nowadays of there being any sort of good discipline. Try it and the teacher hears from the parents' lawyers. So, what does a teacher do -- he or she just lets the problem kids slide and educates the ones that actually want to learn and have parental support for what the teacher is doing. The best that can be done with the others is keep them under control.

So you turn out a pretty good elite, but that is all.