Posted on 09/24/2006 9:41:00 AM PDT by John Jorsett
Rocket scientists, long considered the gold standard in intelligence among all professionals, are not nearly as smart as originally thought, according to a controversial new study published today by the American Association of Brain Surgeons.
The study, which appears in the organization's monthly publication, Popular Brain Surgery, is entitled "The Intelligence of Rocket Scientists: Myth Versus Reality," and suggests that rocket scientists' reputation for smartness is largely undeserved.
"It does require a superior intellect to function as a rocket scientist," the article concedes. "Having said that, though, rocket science is not brain surgery."
The article drew an immediate rebuke from a spokesperson for the American Society of Rocket Scientists, who blasted the study as "state-of-the-art pro-brain surgeon propaganda."
"As rocket scientists, we take offense at this naked attempt by a devious cabal of opportunistic brain surgeons to supplant us as the smartest people on the planet," the spokesperson said. "If rocket science is so easy, we'd like to see these so-called brain surgeons give it a try one of these days."
Professor Davis Logsdon, a University of Minnesota expert who studies the turf wars between rocket scientists and brain surgeons, said that he believes the latest controversy between the two groups has been overplayed.
"The fact of the matter is, the smartest people in the world have always been, and will always be, University of Minnesota experts," he said.
Elsewhere, after a backup punter at the University of Northern Colorado was accused of stabbing the starter in the leg, he said in his defense, "It was either that or start taking steroids."
Award-winning humorist, television personality and film actor Andy Borowitz is author of the new book "The Republican Playbook," to be published October 2006. To find out more about Andy Borowitz and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
These guys ain't no brain surgeons!
ping
Not sure I agree.
Rocket science depends on your ability to master "The Calculus". Medicine requires memory and is less dependent on math.
As an anecdote I remember getting my physical from a doctor prior to my being accepted for a position as an electrical engineer with the federal government (FAA) in 1975.
The doctor thought I was applying to the US Postal Service, as were most of those he examined. When he noticed that I was an engineer he said; "Oh... an engineer....you know that's what I wanted to become when I entered college....but I couldn't master the calculus....so I went to medical school instead.
Hate to break it to both groups, but neither is the smartest. In fact, I am the smartest man on the planet, and I am neither rocket scientist, nor brain surgeon.... but I DO read FreeRepublic daily..
I've posted that entire quotation in several of my classrooms. I love it!
I don't remember...is it Heinlein?
bump
I shall cease mocking your former boss, who was a great scientist :-)
"I don't remember...is it Heinlein?"
Yes. From "Time Enough for Love" in the notebooks of Lazarus Long sections.
Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas are the gold standard.
Lazarus Long was a fictional character in the writings of one Robert Heinlein. I've often wondered how many of those things RAH could do, and of those that he could do, how many he could do well. Unfortunately, I only talked to him once and didn't think to ask ...
He couldn't do much as he got very sick and supported himself and family through his books he wrote.
What about Plato? His proposal to not allow the youth (anybody 29 or under) to engage in philosophic debate was kind of inspired.
Gather round while I sing you of Wernher von Braun
A man whose allegiance is ruled by expedience
Call him a Nazi, he won't even frown
"Ha, Nazi schmazi," says Wernher von Braun
Don't say that he's hypocritical
Say rather that he's apolitical
"Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down
That's not my department," says Wernher von Braun
Some have harsh words for this man of renown
But some think our attitude should be one of gratitude
Like the widows and cripples in old London town
Who owe their large pensions to Wernher von Braun
You too may be a big hero
Once you've learned to count backwards to zero
"In German oder English I know how to count down
Und I'm learning Chinese," says Wernher von Braun
From the incomparable Tom Lehrer
Sean Penn certainly isn't...
Personal preference. To me, Aristotle and Aquinas were masters of common sense.
Aristotle had a large collection of city constitutions and a garden. His garden was famous even though he knew the names of only a quarter of the plants. Aquinas' separation of theology from philosophy rescued Aristotle from the trash heap which was good for Aristotle since the only one who cared at all was Avicenna. The garden is gone anyway, as are the constitutions except for Aristotle's commentary.
Yeah but neither one of them could break 90 from the old guy tees.
;-)
Aquinas synthesized theology and philosophy. His greatest synthesis was that of Chistian teaching and philosophy.
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