Posted on 06/02/2005 4:00:59 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at economist.com ...
Assuming that Ashkenazi Jews dominate, is this cultural or genetic?
Ron
PS. IQ isn't everything. I'd trade 4 IQ points for 4 inches of height.
Sephardic--not sefardic--and I'm Galitiziana
Again, it's the culture... and the fact that in the past the forces of conservatism and reaction have been aligned with antisemitism.
I'm not Jewish. In fact, I'm sure many here think me antisemitic (because I oppose our mid-east policy). But I have a real problem denying my own life experience.
I have the background (some will say ill, I say (in hindsight) good)) of attending a "multicultural" high school.
It was in an older part of town and its makeup was approximately 25% Black, 25% Jew, and 50% mutts like me.
The school was "tracked" (typical in the 50's, I don't know about currently).
I had lots of Jews in my classes and I could always count the Blacks on one hand (actually, often with no fingers). OTOH, I played sports the year round. I had lots of Black teammates and few Jews.
What conclusion would you have drawn?
I can't wait.
So, to what should we ascribe the outstanding record of the Sephardim in their realm, and the Mizrahim? My wife is Mizrachi (middle eastern Jewish). Most of her relatives are doctors or in other high-performing fields. They don't get Tay-Sachs at all.
Yea, all the OTHERS before columbus are laughing hard and wondering.
That would have been closer to my sense of reality.
Well, that'll go right over his head.
I'd love to know how the Economist, of all people, sorted them out.
It's bizarre to see so many people arguing with each other about Jews and Judaism, with an underlying current that some of the discussions are racist toward Jews. This is one of the most semito-philic sites on the internet. Despite what DU undoubtedly would say about us.
Ug. That the whites can't jump, the blacks dominate sports, the jews are intellectual giants, the asians study kungfu, democrats are liberal and republicans are gun nuts. Your posts are asinine to the extreme, you are an ignorant bigot and and a fool. Sorry, I just assume that from your profile......like you assume all else. How does that feel? Nimrod.
And that's unrelated to native intelligence?
The Scriptures say that through them, all the families of the earth will be blessed. Any casual (or causal, if you wish) analysis shows this to be the case. From the Jews:
We have the Scriptures.
Our moral code.
Our understanding of Who God is.
Our understanding that man is a moral being with God-like creativity (Imageo Dei)
The New Testament.
Jesus Christ (Salvation for the world).
The Apostles.
The Christian Church
Add to all this the writers, scientists, doctors, scholars etc. through the ages.
They are chosen for a purpose......to bless the world and bring glory to God. The Jews don't necessarily plan it that way, but God does, and so it happens.
The Germans are/have been right in their with the Jews and Asians.
As previously stated, I am none of the above but have no trepidation at competing with any of them.
I grew up in and live in the "great melting pot".
Is something wrong with me, or with the timid deniers?
Pallid excuse.
Jews were awesome before the diaspora.
As well you should! ;o)
Potentially? Unquestionably.
Geez, who wouldn't? ;o)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.