Is a philosopher as SMART as a phycisist, or a mathematician?

Question

-First cience steps were done by amazing philosophers.
-Philosophers are VERY intelligent.

So.. What do you think?

Answer 1

Sociologically, one can look at the occupational or college-major categories of GRE scores, for a down and dirty quick look. These three were the top three categories at least when I looked 17 years ago. I think the physicists were on top, but the differences were negligible.
But what else do you mean by "smart"? Someone can have very high intelligence and misuse it. I knew a person with an astronomical IQ who seemed to use every point of it to make excuses for his crappy mental health. Is this "smart"? And busloads of intellectuals out there can manipulate concepts with great facility, and make a name for themselves by means if these abilities, but don't use their powers to really think out of the box. Is this "smart"?

Answer 2

It is hard to say, but in some cases, I suppose, the answer is yes and in some others, perhaps no. Perhaps IQ might be introduced as the median by which Philosophers and Scientists (Mathematicians) can be compared.

But to a degree, it seems that such comparisons are like comparing Swimmers with Sprinters - Who's faster or who's better?

Answer 3

A philosopher is far wiser than a physicist or mathematician because a philosopher bases knowledge on a broad spectrum. A specialist, i.e: physics; mathematics, has a limited expertise.

Answer 4

Without generalizing, he could be, even smarter. A philosopher deals with ABSTRACT ideas, is more concerned with the WHY. Therefore he needs to be equipped with a brain that can handle the abstract.

A scientist deals with the TANGIBLE, the concrete. Moreover, great inventions, ideas, be it abstract or concrete start in the philosophical domain, permeate over time and then materialize.

Mathematics is abstract, though.

Therefore, regardless of the domain; be it science, philosophy or mathematics; they all require a smart brain if success is your concern.

Answer 5

I guess that depends on a person's understanding of what it means to be 'smart'. If you think of being smart as having the ability to comprehend and manipulate complex data, then I suppose that a person who is very competent at this might choose to focus on philosophy while another person who is equally competent might choose to become a physicist. However, if you think of being smart in terms of the quantity of facts stored in the brain, then the physicist or mathematician may have the edge.

Answer 6

It depends on the philosopher. Anyone can philosophize. I can hypothesize about God and still be an idiot. I would say a physicist would have to know the most and there for be considered smartest of the three in most people's opinions. Physicist have to know math and will most likely know alot of philosophy.

Answer 7

I think philosophers are just as smart as scientists and mathematicians but not as productive.

Every action begins as a thought but philosophers, instead of taking action just think. Thought without action is useless but not unintellegent.

Answer 8

By defintion he MUST be AT LEAST as smart as them, because physics and math are both branches of philosophy, as you yourself observe. There was a time when all learned people called themselves philosophers... just because there are more names for them now, it hardly means they don't all still have the same roots!

Answer 9

First comes the philosophy and then the science.
Einstein's thought experiments were simply a physical articulation of his philosophy. It took many years for the science to prove any part of his theory correct.

Answer 10

The smartest person is the one that contributes his talent in a way that will improve society. Otherwise, the knowledge and talent is meaningless.