For whom does the bell-shaped curve toll?

Question

Given that all the kinds of human intelligence graph as bell-shaped curves, and given that average parents can have a genius child, what follows for the project to optimize human life?

Answer 1

It tolls for those in the lowest percentile, the cutoff value of which can fluctuate with the needs of the corporate world and military for a sub-population of 2nd class citizens.

Answer 2

The bell-shaped curve is just a tool to help teachers not give too many A's or F's. A good teacher automatically has fewer A's and F's and more C's than anything, but the curve gives the opportunity to help the less advanced and bring out the truly gifted or at least hardest working. I really believe the best students are the B students. They try the hardest. A students are usually naturals, but don't work that hard. C students are tomorrow's business leaders and D students are going to be the major financial winners in trades like A/C and plumbing (who make more than those A+ doctors and don't work near as hard).
That's my opinion anyway for what it's worth.

Answer 3

There is no "project to optimize human life". Anything we do in the microscopically short span of our civilization will be dwarfed by the process of evolution.

We're essentially insignificant. The only effects we can have on life are in the here and now, and those effects have nothing to do with optimizing "human" life. They have everything to do with optimizing our own personal lives, at the expense of anyone who gets in our way.

In a few thousand years, perhaps a few million at most, there will be no human life, optimized or not, and whatever life follows us, even if it is somehow intelligent by any measure of your bell-shaped curve, will know nothing of us. The universe, of course, will do what it always does and no life of any kind will ever have a noticeable effect on it.

Answer 4

The Bell Curve said nothing about average parents having genius children, in fact rather the opposite...read the book again.

The Bell Curve argues that:

- Intelligence exists and is accurately measureable across racial, language, and national boundaries.
- Intelligence is one, if not the most, important correlative factor in economic, social, and overall success in America, and is becoming more important.
- Intelligence is largely (40% to 80%) genetically heritable.
- There are racial and ethnic differences in IQ that cannot be sufficiently explained by environmental factors such as nutrition, social policy, or racism.
- No one has so far been able to manipulate IQ long term to any significant degree through changes in environmental factors, and in light of their failure such approaches are becoming less promising.
- The USA has been in denial regarding these facts, and in light of these findings a better public understanding of the nature of intelligence and its social correlates is necessary to guide future policy decisions in America.

Answer 5

Human life will become intertwined with electronic and biometric systems that allow humans who, for example, can't do mathmatics to have an instant answer at hand. Like having a calculator in your brain when you need it. But that's just one example; languages, medicine, physics, music... anyone will be able to master any of these.

One these systems are in place, humans will no longer be needed to spread ideas, which is their primary function. The systems can do it and thus optimize human life.

Answer 6

Given what you said.. have more children, which can't be right.
We have to assume another premise though, that geniuses are culturally desireable.

Is one Einstein per 1 billion worth all the havok of the simpletons?
Hmm. Evolutionary Messianism...

Lemme read the IQ articles on wikipedia again...

_____________________

Really if there is no relation between socio-economic background or heredity on IQ, and genius IQ is of paramount concern to us, then we should all procreate as much as possible. Of course, this would cause alot of Malthussian havoc. So we should refine our ability to determine IQ potential from the earliest ages. And exterminate those who don't have potential.

Answer 7

Simple: Raise the average while simultaneously lowering the standard deviation.

Answer 8

It tolls for those who fall beyond the limits of the gaussian distribution. For they are the only ones who have smoked enough weed to fully grok the concept of that which you speaketh. Or some sh*t like that.....

Answer 9

Those who regress to the mean are doomed to relive history...sorry, it's not only predicted, but it's mandated by the all pervasive 2nd Law.

Answer 10

Yes, second answerer. The future belongs to the borg.