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A study reports that IQs have declined in the advanced nations, which is a reversal for the long-term trend of continuing increases. One line of speculation is that humanity has possibly reached its full potential and we are up against a ceiling. However, I find it striking that the decline was kicking in just as the Internet became popular and all-consuming, in the latter 1990s. In so far as the high-level usage of the Internet corresponds to less face-to-face contacts, is it possible that dealing with people in the flesh actually feeds and strengthens IQ, whereas we perhaps starve our brains by interacting with others more through keyboards and screens? After all, we are talking about a decline in IQ, not a leveling off. Very interesting.
(Source: Philip Hunter at Prospect Magazine)
(Source: Philip Hunter at Prospect Magazine)
