Intelligence Quotient

The current topic generating considerable interest and debate is the intelligence-centric movement, which strongly echoes eugenic ideas of the past. Prior to and during World War II, eugenics led to sterilization policies and theories on racial superiority. Even political figures from countries that ultimately defeated the Axis powers, such as British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, subscribed to these ideas.

Today, elements of these ideas are resurfacing in the form of transhumanism, a movement that, in some of its manifestations, seeks to define who is "intelligent" and who is not, often on questionable grounds. In this context, the work of Nassim Nicholas Taleb, an expert in probability and financial mathematics, is particularly relevant. Taleb, who predicted the 2007 financial crisis and introduced concepts like "black swan" and "antifragility," has recently questioned the scientific validity of the Intelligence Quotient (IQ). According to him, IQ is largely a pseudoscientific concept, meaning it has the appearance of science without its rigor.

Taleb has also responded to controversial statements made by public figures like Stéphane Molyneux, who advanced theories on "national IQ" to justify political stances. Taleb refuted these ideas by highlighting the significant contributions of the ancestors of Iraqis, particularly the Sumerians, to fields like metallurgy, numeration, and writing, which laid the foundations for modern mathematics.

Regrettably, the promotion of unfounded theories on IQ is not limited to a few individuals. In France, figures like Franck Ramus and Stanislas Dehaene have also excessively emphasized the IQ concept, leading to unrealistic expectations and misleading claims. Nassim Nicholas Taleb has criticized these researchers, questioning their expertise in probabilities and statistics. He even accused Ramus of not understanding the fundamental concept of correlation.

These debates in France about IQ are just the tip of the iceberg. Other personalities, like Laurent Alexandre, have also focused on IQ, frequently mentioning it in works like "The War of Intelligences."

It is important to note that these discussions on IQ often rely on sources that their proponents consider reliable, including renowned researchers. However, these sources have been contested by experts in probabilities, raising questions about their validity.

The widespread notion that IQ is a reliable indicator of intelligence and has a significant genetic basis can have harmful implications. That's why it is crucial to demystify these notions and liberate people from these misleading ideas. The aim is not to criticize the theories of various actors, but to free those who feel inferior due to these purportedly "scientific" measures.

These theories on IQ often have a dangerous subtext, suggesting that certain groups are genetically inferior, reminiscent of ideas from figures like Francis Galton. Galton attempted to classify nations based on their intelligence, claiming it was primarily genetically determined.

It is vital not to let one's self-worth be dictated by these supposed measures of intelligence. For instance, my own mother, who holds a Ph.D. in the didactics of mathematics, was once labeled "intellectually limited." This underscores that intelligence can only truly be evaluated retrospectively, through the life choices we make.

Biology often views intelligence as the ability to survive and evade extinction. However, a more intuitive definition might be the ability to make wise choices, choices that can only be evaluated in hindsight. It is crucial to understand that someone can be considered to have low intelligence while making very wise choices.

Take the example of the film "Forrest Gump." The protagonist, Forrest, is perceived as having below-average intelligence, yet his life is a series of wise choices. This point is crucial: despite a reputation for low intelligence, Forrest managed to make the right choices based on his circumstances. That's why I oppose stereotypes and prejudices associated with intelligence, hoping to liberate those who feel diminished by hasty and unfounded judgments.

Intelligence is a multifaceted and complex concept. It is not uncommon to see people considered extremely intelligent making disastrous choices. For example, Hermann Goering, tried at the Nuremberg Trials, was considered highly intelligent, yet his decisions were catastrophic for both himself and Germany.

Nassim Nicholas Taleb has also addressed this issue, emphasizing that intelligence is too complex to be reduced to a single number like IQ. He employed the concept of the "curse of dimensionality" to show that IQ is an overly simplistic representation of intelligence, a mere shadow of what it truly is.

To substantiate his viewpoint, Nassim Nicholas Taleb proposed a thought experiment. Imagine a completely random test, unrelated to intelligence or skills, yet whose results correlate with success or salary in life. If a selected individual dies before taking the test, they receive a score of zero. Even in this scenario, some correlation could be observed between test scores and life success, despite the test itself being random and unrelated to intelligence or skills. This highlights the limitations of one-dimensional measures of intelligence, such as IQ, which cannot capture its full complexity and may even lead to erroneous conclusions.

If you were to conduct a study using IQ tests and then evaluate a correlation with financial success, like salary level, you might be surprised to find a notable correlation. This is an argument frequently advanced by IQ proponents, who contend that high scores are often associated with better remuneration and success in areas like administrative competitions. However, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, a well-known critic of IQ, disputes the validity of these correlations. According to him, the importance of IQ has been exaggerated for years, sometimes leading to deplorable actions like the forced sterilization of women in the United States deemed to have low IQ. These cases illustrate severe forms of academic corruption, often overlooked but with devastating consequences.

The emphasis on IQ has also influenced other fields, like architecture. Le Corbusier, an influential architect, was an advocate of what he called "social hygiene," which advocated the removal of "undesirable" individuals from urban centers. This philosophy led to the construction of large suburban housing complexes, often to the detriment of residents.

Taleb highlights the issue of intellectual and academic corruption based on misleading correlations. He argues that IQ really only measures cases of extreme intelligence. He also introduces the concept of "black swans," statistical anomalies that can have a disproportionate impact. Forrest Gump is a classic example of this phenomenon: despite perceived limited intelligence, he makes wise choices throughout his life. This underscores that intelligence measured by IQ is not the sole determinant of success or informed decision-making.

Taleb suggests that the correlation between IQ and financial success could just as well be obtained with a random test. He compares this to basketball, where height may be an advantage but does not guarantee success. Life is complex and multi-dimensional, and a single indicator like IQ cannot explain everything.

In summary, it is crucial to understand that skills like mental arithmetic, while important, are not the only determinants of life success. Even if you excel in mental arithmetic, it does not necessarily guarantee overall success, unless you are particularly passionate about that field.

The Intelligence Quotient (IQ) has often been highlighted, sometimes for political reasons, as a means to categorize and judge individuals. This approach can have severe implications, determining who is fit for certain jobs, who can participate in public discourse, or even who deserves to be taken seriously on the international stage. Nassim Nicholas Taleb challenges this overvaluation of IQ, emphasizing that even a random test could almost as well predict life success. This overestimation of IQ, according to him, is the product of academic corruption, a particularly dangerous scourge as it shapes mindsets, influences decisions, and guides public policies.

It is crucial to understand that the true measure of intelligence lies in the ability to make wise decisions, a quality that can only be evaluated in hindsight. It is not for authorities or IQ testers to determine your worth as an individual. This realization is all the more important today, at a time when tests are increasingly used for decisions as serious as longevity or reproduction.

Albert Camus, who was not a product of elite schools, grasped this idea well. According to him, our worth lies in our choices. This concept is also illustrated by the character of Forrest Gump, who, despite a low IQ, consistently makes good decisions. This shows that the ability to make wise decisions is accessible to all, regardless of their IQ or education.

It is also important not to underestimate the role of so-called "ordinary" people in social and political change. Contrary to popular belief, conformity is not an indicator of intelligence. While it may facilitate coexistence and social cohesion, it does not measure the ability to make wise decisions.

We must all recognize that our potential for intelligence is not solely determined by our genetics, but also by our choices and actions. Even those considered highly intelligent according to academic criteria can make disastrous choices, as evidenced by examples from the Nazis during the Nuremberg Trials or certain Japanese officers during World War II.

In summary, intelligence is a far more complex and nuanced concept than what IQ can measure. Attempts at statistical manipulation to skew these measures must be denounced. Never let someone else define or limit your intelligence.