Posted on 12/28/2019 7:56:45 AM PST by yesthatjallen
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Sarah Bernhardt and Franz Kafka; Albert Einstein and Rosalind Franklin; Benjamin Disraeli and (sigh) Karl Marx — how is it that a people who never amounted even to one-third of 1 percent of the world’s population contributed so seminally to so many of its most pathbreaking ideas and innovations?
The common answer is that Jews are, or tend to be, smart. When it comes to Ashkenazi Jews, it’s true. “Ashkenazi Jews have the highest average I.Q. of any ethnic group for which there are reliable data,” noted one 2005 paper. “During the 20th century, they made up about 3 percent of the U.S. population but won 27 percent of the U.S. Nobel science prizes and 25 percent of the ACM Turing awards. They account for more than half of world chess champions.”
But the “Jews are smart” explanation obscures more than it illuminates. Aside from the perennial nature-or-nurture question of why so many Ashkenazi Jews have higher I.Q.s, there is the more difficult question of why that intelligence was so often matched by such bracing originality and high-minded purpose.
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But as the story of the Lithuanian rabbi suggests, Jewish genius operates differently. It is prone to question the premise and rethink the concept; to ask why (or why not?) as often as how; to see the absurd in the mundane and the sublime in the absurd. Ashkenazi Jews might have a marginal advantage over their gentile peers when it comes to thinking better. Where their advantage more often lies is in thinking different.
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(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Is you find this article insightful or offensive please take it up with Mr. Stephens.
One huge advantage Jews have is practicing the ancient tradition of the father blessing the children every Friday. Children going up being blessed by their father have a great advantage.
Jews don’t go around saying “learning is acting white”.
They don’t have four kids by different mothers (and the kids know who their parents are).
There is a father and strong male role model in every home.
They appreciate books and learning.
… and (sigh) Karl Marx …Really, Bret? The man spewed out his heritage (for not even a bowl of pottage) and embraced atheism. Never mind having the most ignorant view of human history any human mind ever conceived.
“Where their advantage more often lies is in thinking different. “
That should be “thinking differently”. At least use proper grammar when you write an article about intelligence.
bkmk
F the NYT! There is no way in Hell I will EVER subscribe to the NYT.
A side benefit (Blessing) to being God’s chosen people.
Yeah, they had to throw that in there.
I agree, Karl Marx is just a 19th century version of a lefty college professor with lots of high sounding papers written that say nothing or are outright wrong. Influential? Yes, he fooled many gullible people and left a lasting legacy of millions and millions of skulls of victims of his moronic philosophy. But genius? No way.
Here’s why so many Jews are “smart”. Many years ago I happened to be walking on a sidewalk in the Jewish section of town. And maybe six feet ahead of me walked a Jewish man (yarmulke, etc.) with his young son. The son was about six years old.
And the father was talking to the son. I could hear what the father was saying. He was quizzing his son on basic math and science facts, based on what they saw as they walked along.
That’s why Jews are so “smart”. Case closed.
I learned what I know about this from a Jew who had been a pilot in the seven day war.
Jews encourage their children to speak and participate. That’s what the Talmud is all about.
Non-Jews tell their children to speak only when spoken to and that they should be seen but not heard.
Jews give their children a head-start on life.
Non-Jews expect government schools to do it.
It’s not genius. It’s bigger egos.
It’s working hard, and being used to not blindly accepting thinking from the dominant surrounding culture. And God’s specific blessing.
“A side benefit (Blessing) to being God’s chosen people.”
Yes; there is that!
Children going up being blessed by their actual father have a great advantage.
Fixed.
Well, Asians have a similar tradition, as this 6 second video demonstrates.
I’m ~50% Ashkenazi. My dad never played sports with me or there the ball around (though he was physical and tough) he spent time explaining to me how securities worked, markets were set, etc. He also exposed me to an extreme amount of western/world history. There was always an emphasis on leaning and work ethic. I don’t think Jews are innately smarter than any other Europeans or Asians, but I do think Jewish culture emphasis leaning similar to how say southern culture emphasis football development from an early age.
“Jewish genius operates differently. It is prone to question the premise and rethink the concept.”
Apparently not when it comes to supporting Leftists, at least in this country.
Thanks for pointing that out. NYT writers wouldn't know that.
Now please remember to be kind and overlook any of my grammatical failings when you encounter them.
--FB the Hypocrite.
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