Why are Jews (if you agree it is so) over-represented in the history of intellectual achievement?

Answer 1

because in the past the Jews were excluded from mainstream economic activity and pushed into marginal areas of the economy, which in the long run would prove more profitable. the rabbinical tradition also created a respect for learning and intellectual pursuits, whereas, Christianity for a long time tried to suppress learning in the population as a whole, as they thought it was dangerous and would destabilise the existing hierarchical society.and perhaps the exclusion of Jews from mainstream society breed a hunger for social acceptance and respectability which could only be achieved by over achieving as lawyers, doctors, artists and intellectuals. this hunger propelled a greater number of the Jewish population into the middle classes and, thereby, produced a disproportionate number of achievers.

Answer 2

I'm not sure if you can be "over represented" in the history of intellectual achievement. But it's certainly true that Jewish people have been responsible for enormous innovation - I guess it's the product of being persecuted everywhere for centuries that breeds a certain level of ingenuity into the gene pool.

Answer 3

Two things to remember about history:

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. - George Santayana

He who controls the present, controls the past. He who controls the past, controls the future. - George Orwell.

I could imagine that if Hitler had won WWII, there would be a distinct lack of Jewish content in history.

Also, consider that the Jewish have been very good at documenting the passage of their kind, thus documenting events at the time they were happening - and not knowing if it was going to become a historical event. Romans, Greeks and Egyptians were also good at this, but as their empires and civilisations declined so did their documentation.

I do not think that Jews have been over-represented in history - it's that our history comes from the most documented evidence we have available. If that happens to be Jewish (or Greek, Roman, Egyptian or any other race or civilisation), so be it.

Answer 4

It is my understanding (albeit limited) that the Jewish culture places a premium on learning, education, innovation, philosophy, and rabbinical training. (Rabbi means "teacher".) Because of their religion and the fact that their world was so insulated (due to prejudice and laws limiting their professions, neighborhoods, etc.) they had to rely on their educated citizens to further educate them and perhaps enlighten the rest of the world. Rabbi Hillel is a shining example of the results of the Jewish culture. He is a highly respected philosopher and his viewpoints apply to humanity as a whole (as opposed to Judaism).

Answer 5

It is a part of the culture. To read and become educated. You must read and understand Hebrew, You must read and understand the Torah. It is ingrained into them from a very young age.

Answer 6

I guess for the same reason racists are mostly regarded as idiots.