Greetings Economists, On Oct 28, 2007, at 10:41 AM, Sabri Oncu wrote:
One of the smartest mathematicians I have ever met was an Ethiopian, a black guy. At least, he was way smarter than I. His name was Kenzu.
Doyle; I think you fall into a trap here of I knew someone personally sort of gesture. Charles Brown is quite right there is no 'black' race. There is no difference between Ethiopians and Russians, or Swedes as race is concerned. I know a smart Swede, might mean I like smart people which is what I think you indicate too. But even the term Swede is arbitrary in meaning something. Did that Swede immigrate there from England 1000 years ago by being kidnapped in a raid? These details of genetic diversity gradually will come forward as the science gives the eugenicists another round of ammunition to claim heritage determines value. And us leftys will eventually knock that down as specious as well. And that will be the final arrow in the quiver of heritage based upon genes. Finally math is often taken as the hard evidence of intelligence in someone. I think we need to look under the rock and see if math really is any more important than a great dancers intelligence which often taken as the scalar opposite of 'soft' intelligence in public discussion. I think because our tools of communication make math difficult to use, and that dance comes easily to people we think one is dumb ass and one is not. This seems a most unfortunate error of how to consider cognition. thanks, Doyle Saylor
