I read with interest an article this morning stating that there is compelling evidence Victorian-era people were substantially more intelligent and quick-witted than present-day humans.
Here’s an excerpt:
Reaction times – a reliable marker of general intelligence – have declined steadily since the Victorian era from about 183 milliseconds to 250ms in men, and from 187ms to 277ms in women.
The slowing of our reflexes points to a decrease in general intelligence equivalent to 1.23 IQ points per decade since the 1880s or about 14 IQ points overall, researchers said.
Our declining intelligence is most likely down to a “reverse” in the process of natural selection, he explained. The most intelligent people now have fewer children on average than in previous decades, while there are higher survival rates among people with less favourable genes.
I think this all rings true. In my experience, the most super-intelligent people I know have zero – – or maybe one – – child. And some of the most unlightened nitwits to roam the earth have lots and lots of kids. I well remember one fellow that worked for me – a remarkably smart guy – saying he decided not to have kids since he didn’t want to be a tax on the Earth’s resources.
Ummm, that battle is lost, my friend. It’s a nice gesture, but I assure you, plenty of folks with very little intellect have no compunction about reproducing in large quantities.
I also think our irreversible embrace of iPads and cable television are helping to dumb-down everyone. We are moving toward a plutocracy in which a few billionaires reap the riches of an Earth largely inhabited by slow-witted worker bees. It’s quite a sight.
