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        riddles >> general problem-solving / chatting / whatever >> What is IQ that maximizes freedom?
        
(Message started by: amichail on Apr 23^rd, 2009, 7:53am)

Title: What is IQ that maximizes freedom?
Post by amichail on Apr 23^rd, 2009, 7:53am

While it is obvious that low IQ will not give you many options in life, I think it is also the case that very high IQ will take away your freedom as well.

There are after all expectations on what one should do with a very high IQ as not to "waste" it.

For example, if you are the sort of person who can win a gold medal in the International Math Olympiad, then maybe becoming an entrepreneur will not make optimal use of your brain power.

Moreover, entrepreneurship is risky. Why should a very smart person take such risk? Isn't academia safer?

And so the question becomes, what sort of IQ is best to maximize freedom?

BTW, very high IQ people who have exercised significant freedom in their projects/career have often been ridiculed. Consider for example Wolfram and Marilyn vos Savant.

Title: Re: What is IQ that maximizes freedom?
Post by towr on Apr 23^rd, 2009, 9:02am

How hard can it be to fail an IQ test on purpose? The smarter you are, the easier, surely, it is to fake that you aren't.
The more intellectual resources you have, the better you can manipulate the world around you and increase your freedom.

Title: Re: What is IQ that maximizes freedom?
Post by rmsgrey on Apr 23^rd, 2009, 9:58am

A better example of being "too smart" is the effective loss of choice when you can see the "best" course of action - if you know what the best choice is, okay, you could choose something else but why would you?

Title: Re: What is IQ that maximizes freedom?
Post by towr on Apr 23^rd, 2009, 10:26am

But is that a lack of freedom? Would you rather not (or less often, or less reliably) know the best course of action, just to increase your choices? And besides, too much choice can paralyze someone dead in their tracks. If there's only one realistic choice, you're as free as you can be to act on it.

Title: Re: What is IQ that maximizes freedom?
Post by Grimbal on Apr 24^th, 2009, 4:16am

I don't think a gold medal in the Math Olympiad or a gold medal in swimming is very different in helping you to get a successful career. I would say being sucessful as an entrepreneur has more to do with social skills than with mathematical skills.

With a higer IQ you freedom is limited only compared to the higher expectations you could have.

Title: Re: What is IQ that maximizes freedom?
Post by rmsgrey on Apr 24^th, 2009, 5:47am

on 04/23/09 at 10:26:09, towr wrote:

Guess it depends on your definition of freedom (or of free will) which is something entire books could be written about...