On Ethnicity and intelligence- The case of Ashkenazi Jews

The Economist ^ | 02 june 2005 | The Economist

[voletti]

THE idea that some ethnic groups may, on average, be more intelligent than others is one of those hypotheses that dare not speak its name. But Gregory Cochran, a noted scientific iconoclast, is prepared to say it anyway. He is that rare bird, a scientist who works independently of any institution. Even he, however, might tremble at the thought of what he is about to do. Together with Jason Hardy and Henry Harpending, of the University of Utah, he is publishing, in a forthcoming edition of the Journal of Biosocial Science, a paper which not only suggests that one group of humanity is more intelligent than the others, but explains the process that has brought this about. The group in question are Ashkenazi Jews. The process is natural selection. Ashkenazim generally do well in IQ tests, scoring 12-15 points above the mean value of 100, and have contributed disproportionately to the intellectual and cultural life of the West, as the careers of Freud, Einstein and Mahler, pictured above, affirm. They also suffer more often than most people from a number of nasty genetic diseases, such as Tay-Sachs and breast cancer. These facts, however, have previously been thought unrelated. The former has been put down to social effects, such as a strong tradition of valuing education. The latter was seen as a consequence of genetic isolation. Even now, Ashkenazim tend to marry among themselves. In the past they did so almost exclusively.

[voletti]

The phenomenal preponderence of jews amongst the uber-intelligent (look at the Nobel Science laurate lists) relative to their numbers in the general population points to a genius that could not have been brought about by chance alone. Take the case of Einstein who was named the man of the century by many a millenium magazine edition bestowed on the world rare insights.

[proxy_user]

There may be other factors at work. 'Intelligence' cannot be measured in isolation--it is necessary to test mental skills that to some extent can be improved by practice and study. In a culture that emphasizes education, this may be a widespread phenomenon.

[gorush]

Makes sense to me...that alone won't impress my wife, however.

[Alas Babylon!]

Even now, Ashkenazim tend to marry among themselves. In the past they did so almost exclusively.

Here in the USA, this is simply not true. Jews (and the preponderance of American Jews are Ashkenazim) in the US are intermarrying at an alarming rate. In fact, 1/3 of all American Jews are married to non-Jews, mostly Christians.

[Mears]

bump

[68skylark]

In fact, 1/3 of all American Jews are married to non-Jews, mostly Christians.

Are you saying that's a bad thing?

[Lizavetta]

If it's OKAY to say that certain races/ethnicities are superior in athletic endeavors (observe the dominant race in the NBA, for example) why is it forbidden to say that certain races/ethncities are superior in academic or intelligence endeavors?

[ConorMacNessa]

Interesting that such a small population should have such a great impact on the course of Western Civilization.

[mikegi]

Or could it be that the jewish scientists mentioned have a better PR campaign behind their popularity? How about Faraday, Maxwell, Schrodinger, Heisenberg, Heaviside, Fitzgerald, and Newton?

[Oberon]

"Even now, Ashkenazim tend to marry among themselves."

Here in the USA, this is simply not true.

Actually, your own cited statistic supports his thesis.

In fact, 1/3 of all American Jews are married to non-Jews, mostly Christians.

See? That means that 2/3s of all American Jews are married to other Jews. In other words, those who marry other Ashkenazim outnumber the intermarriers by a factor of two to one.

[go-dubya-04]

Not to be overly picky, but what do you mean by, "alarming rate"?

[Max in Utah]

The Jews have had to live by their wits for thousands of years; the smart ones had a better chance to survive.

For example, the ones who were smart enough to get the hell out of Germany when Hitler came to power.

[Oberon]

...why is it forbidden to say that certain races/ethncities are superior in academic or intelligence endeavors?

Because if you say that, the inescapable conclusion is that other races or ethnicities are correspondingly inferior to the superior ones...and that conclusion, of racial inferiority, will get you labeled a racist Nazi Klansman bigot eugenicist faster than you can say "Margaret Sanger."

[ScreamingFist]

The phenomenal preponderence of jews amongst the uber-intelligent (look at the Nobel Science laurate lists) relative to their numbers in the general population points to a genius that could not have been brought about by chance alone.

I see. Education opportunities, family ties and religious and moral values have nothing to do with the formula. I call B.S.

[Lizavetta]

Oh, I get it. So if I say that those of African descent are superior in basketball-type sports and track/running events, it's cool - but if I say that white Euros or Russian Jews are superior in inventions and/or the arts, I'm a butthead bigot.

Okay - makes perfect sense.

[Oberon]

...if I say that white Euros or Russian Jews are superior in inventions and/or the arts, I'm a butthead bigot.

Yeah, that's it. That's what happened to the guys who wrote The Bell Curve.

[iconoclast]

Here in the USA, this is simply not true. Jews (and the preponderance of American Jews are Ashkenazim) in the US are intermarrying at an alarming rate. In fact, 1/3 of all American Jews are married to non-Jews, mostly Christians.

And the result?

Einsteins ......... 0.

Hollywood scum ... infinite.

[ScreamingFist]

So if I say that those of African descent are superior in basketball-type sports and track/running events, it's cool - but if I say that white Euros or Russian Jews are superior in inventions and/or the arts, I'm a butthead bigot.

Frankly yes. Were the German's "master race" superior because they said so? No. African Americans excel in sports because they have the physical capacity ,the drive and the moral support to accomplish their goals. Just like Jewish academics.

[JAWs]

Are you saying that's a bad thing?

If we want children raised Jewish, yes.

[iconoclast]

African Americans excel in sports because they have the physical capacity ,the drive and the moral support to accomplish their goals. Just like Jewish academics.

Jews do well academically because of their physical capacity?

Care to restate your position without bending over backwards to avoid obvious ethnic/racial truisms?