tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post1767175047788289366..comments2024-03-19T07:48:54.021-06:00Comments on Gus Van Horn: From Tabula Rasa to the NFLGus Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-57213420945395534452010-11-03T14:19:01.870-06:002010-11-03T14:19:01.870-06:00I don't know whether Rand ever said anything o...I don't know whether Rand ever said anything on that subject.<br /><br />The rise in IQ reminds me of a paper I read long ago of an early study of whether cognitive development in rats was affected by environmental "richness" in stimuli. <br /><br />The workers used brain mass as a very crude approximation for cognitive development and found that rats raised in rich environments (e.g., with toys, and other interesting objects) vice bare cages had heavier brains. What they didn't do (or I never read) was whether they changed some rats from "poor" surroundings to "rich" at some point to see whether those rats also had heavier brains. That would be a better analogy to what happened here.<br /><br />In any event, it appears that, fortunately, even humans raised in such conditions are not rendered incapable of overcoming their lack of development.Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-73052211095080421512010-11-03T11:44:57.585-06:002010-11-03T11:44:57.585-06:00his I.Q. test score had risen between 20 and 30 po...<i>his I.Q. test score had risen between 20 and 30 points</i><br /><br />Didn't Ayn Rand say something to the effect that proper cognitive training could raise a person's IQ by 30 points? I'm glad you posted on this because it is a good illustration that IQ may not be the be all/end all that so many make it out to be. <br /><br />The HBD movement is indicative of the genetic determinism that is sweeping the Conservative movement and they worship at the alter of IQ scores. But I am wondering if early cognitive challenges of youth are at least as important as hereditary factors. I am also wondering what the damage done by public schools and their pragmatist look/say method is, especially in regard to this area. <br /><br />Why do I have a feeling that if public education was abolished and a totally free market in education was established, with all the innovative teaching methods that would bring, that everyone's IQ scores would be higher.madmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14375140131881725965noreply@blogger.com