Is intelligence a trait passed on to each generation?

[oiprocs]

If people really wanted a "better world for future generations", wouldn't it make sense to limit procreation to individuals of high intelligence? (How we determine that intelligence is another matter.)

I guess it's easy for me to say I would be in favor of this idea, because I don't want kids. Yes, I haven't reached 25 yet, so I suppose things might change. However, given the prospect of having a better future (as opposed to just talking about it, driving hybrids, and fighting "global warming"), that's a sacrifice I'm prepared to make.

Edit: Assume that the group that sets the standards for reproduction is highly qualified and is trusted by everyone.

 

[rbV5]

Smart people screw everything up.

 

[lyssword]

And you wonder why people supported hitler..
It's called eugenics, read up on that

 

[Praxis1452]

And you wonder why people supported hitler..
It's called eugenics, read up on that

Why people supported hitler was hardly that simple.

Anyway, I'm against some large government entity deciding who reproduces. The market can do this much better.

 

[irishScott]

Intelligence is nature and nurture like almost every other mental ability. Plenty of smart people with stupid kids and vice versa.

Assuming a perfect system, yes it's possible eugenics could work. Unfortunately there is no perfect system, so the idea is as stupid as Communism.

 

[oiprocs]

Why people supported hitler was hardly that simple.

Anyway, I'm against some large government entity deciding who reproduces. The market can do this much better.

Well, I never said who would set the standards to qualify individuals for reproduction. That's a topic that deserves its own thread.

For simplicity's sake, assume that the group that sets the standards for reproduction is highly qualified and is trusted by everyone.

 

[Braznor]

Well, I never said who would set the standards to qualify individuals for reproduction. That's a topic that deserves its own thread.

For simplicity's sake, assume that the group that sets the standards for reproduction is highly qualified and is trusted by everyone.

Oh you mean the government?

 

[zerocool84]

No cus we need the dumb people as much as the smart people. Who's ganna clean our toilets and serve us our food? Smart people would think they're too good for that type of work.

 

[Siddhartha]

How do you define "intelligence"? Is what is intelligent the same from generation to generation? What are the genetics of intelligence? Would you support proper prenatial care if it promoted overall improvement intelligence?

Personally, I do not think we have a good enough understanding of human genetics to start a breeding program to inhance overall intelligence.

 

[DangerAardvark]

Just because it would be fascistic and wrong doesn't mean it wouldn't work. Humans are animals. Look at the variation you can produce in dogs in just a few generations through selective breeding. Measuring intelligence would obviously be more difficult than measuring size and strength but that doesn't mean it's impossible... given a completely controlled environment.

 

[Kadarin]

Evolution suggests that given a specific environment, traits that enhance chances of survival within that environment will be favored for reproduction. Keep in mind that within the current human environment, high intelligence may not be an important survival trait.

 

[Siddhartha]

If people really wanted a "better world for future generations", wouldn't it make sense to limit procreation to individuals of high intelligence? (How we determine that intelligence is another matter.)

I guess it's easy for me to say I would be in favor of this idea, because I don't want kids. Yes, I haven't reached 25 yet, so I suppose things might change. However, given the prospect of having a better future (as opposed to just talking about it, driving hybrids, and fighting "global warming"), that's a sacrifice I'm prepared to make.

Edit: Assume that the group that sets the standards for reproduction is highly qualified and is trusted by everyone.

I can see this breeding program actually lowering the overall human survivability because it would limit the size of the gene pool.

The overal health and intelligence, by any definition, of humans would benefit more from improved prenatial and childhood health care and nutrition.

 

[oiprocs]

How do you define "intelligence"? Is what is intelligent the same from generation to generation? What are the genetics of intelligence? Would you support proper prenatial care if it promoted overall improvement intelligence?

Personally, I do not think we have a good enough understanding of human genetics to start a breeding program to inhance overall intelligence.

No clue how to define intelligence. Can you tell that I'd likely not be picked for reproduction?

I'm just curious to know whether this is a feasible idea. There is a lot of talk about bettering the world, but how to go about this differs from person to person. I figured if we chose a select group of people to handle reproduction, it would not be such a bad thing.

"They definitely shouldn't be allowed to reproduce" gets thrown around a lot.

 

[DangerAardvark]

No clue how to define intelligence. Can you tell that I'd likely not be picked for reproduction?

I'm just curious to know whether this is a feasible idea. There is a lot of talk about bettering the world, but how to go about this differs from person to person. I figured if we chose a select group of people to handle reproduction, it would not be such a bad thing.

"They definitely shouldn't be allowed to reproduce" gets thrown around a lot.

Don't you think any benefits gained from this might be vastly outweighed by having to live in a society with an enforced breeding class? Don't you watch sci-fi? This sort of thing never works out well.

 

[Acanthus]

This question will be brought to the forefront in 50 years or so when we hit the carrying capacity of the earth biologically.

The maximum population the earth can sustain is about 12 to 15 billion people. We will hit that mark this century.

There will be a lot of questions that are ridiculous now that will have to be re-evaluated. Limits to reproduction and who gets to reproduce... etc.

 

[oiprocs]

Don't you think any benefits gained from this might be vastly outweighed by having to live in a society with an enforced breeding class? Don't you watch sci-fi? This sort of thing never works out well.

I could see resentment from the intelligent persons for having to carry on the fate of the world and nurture for 18 years while the rest of us are enjoying free-for-all sex because all the men have been required to get vasectomies. :biggrin:

 

[ShawnD1]

No cus we need the dumb people as much as the smart people. Who's ganna clean our toilets and serve us our food? Smart people would think they're too good for that type of work.

Highly skilled people tend to get bored easily and would suck at these jobs. It's really hard to take pride in something like waiting tables when you know you're capable of being a heavy duty mechanic or a chemist.

The maximum population the earth can sustain is about 12 to 15 billion people. We will hit that mark this century.

There will be a lot of questions that are ridiculous now that will have to be re-evaluated. Limits to reproduction and who gets to reproduce... etc.

I can't imagine the US running out of food any time soon. Overpopulation would likely have the strongest effect in countries that already have problems with starvation (ie Africa, South America).

 

[yllus]

I believe most studies have shown that intelligence is 50% genetic, 50% environment.

 

[lxskllr]

Assuming you could breed high intelligence; what about the artists? Where do they fall in the intelligence scale? I'm not too hip on the idea of listening to a bunch of sterile math rock, and music that's technically perfect, but lacks soul.

Edit:
Btw, I have a child, and I'm not in favor. Intelligence can manifest itself in many ways, not always in the classic sense. I've met too many "smart" people that were dumb as rocks, and would be dead in a week if they were dropped off in the wilderness and had to depend on themselves for survival.

 

[FoBoT]

if you mean the government limiting reproduction, then no, under no circumstances is it the governments job to interfere

that makes no sense whatsoever

 

[oiprocs]

Don't you think any benefits gained from this might be vastly outweighed by having to live in a society with an enforced breeding class? Don't you watch sci-fi? This sort of thing never works out well.

This question will be brought to the forefront in 50 years or so when we hit the carrying capacity of the earth biologically.

The maximum population the earth can sustain is about 12 to 15 billion people. We will hit that mark this century.

There will be a lot of questions that are ridiculous now that will have to be re-evaluated. Limits to reproduction and who gets to reproduce... etc.

if you mean the government limiting reproduction, then no, under no circumstances is it the governments job to interfere

that makes no sense whatsoever

What about MENSA?

 

[sdifox]

Eugenics... Please see Gattaca

 

[Bibble]

No cus we need the dumb people as much as the smart people. Who's ganna clean our toilets and serve us our food? Smart people would think they're too good for that type of work.

I agree with this. You can disregard the moral argument about eugenics and still see that the world needs people to do menial tasks, and those with high IQs are not suited for such jobs.

 

[Acanthus]

Assuming you could breed high intelligence; what about the artists? Where do they fall in the intelligence scale? I'm not too hip on the idea of listening to a bunch of sterile math rock, and music that's technically perfect, but lacks soul.

Edit:
Btw, I have a child, and I'm not in favor. Intelligence can manifest itself in many ways, not always in the classic sense. I've met too many "smart" people that were dumb as rocks, and would be dead in a week if they were dropped off in the wilderness and had to depend on themselves for survival.

Artists tend to do very well on IQ tests.

 

[IronWing]

Is intelligence a trait passed on by each generation?

Yes, each generation gives this trait a pass.