The Limits of High IQ: Why Intelligence Alone Doesn't Guarantee Achievement
By
surprisetalk
An everything bagel for the brain. Substantive, layered, well-seasoned.
Summary
The article critiques the concept of high IQ as a measure of success, using Christopher Langan as an example of someone with an exceptionally high IQ (allegedly ~170) who hasn't produced significant works of art or science. It contrasts Langan with other outsider intellectuals like Paul Erdös, Stephen Wolfram, and Nassim Taleb who have made notable contributions. The piece includes a poignant tweet about former gifted children and suggests that IQ alone is insufficient for achievement, paralleling it with other limited resources like money, time, and energy.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledGoing as Former Gifted Child for Halloween and the whole costume is just gonna be people asking 'What are you supposed to be?' And me saying 'I was supposed to be a lot of things.'
Christopher Langan became famous when television networks interviewed him for allegedly scoring ~170 on an IQ test.
Langan has not produced any acclaimed works of art or science. In this way, he differs significantly from outsider intellectuals like Paul Erdös, Stephen Wolfram, Nassim Taleb, etc.
Wolfram's theory of everything is incomprehensible in a fun way.
You will never have enough IQ, nor money, nor time, nor energy.
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