ApostateAbe
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2002
- Messages
- 1,299
- Location
- Colorado, USA
- Basic Beliefs
- Infotheist. I believe the gods to be mere information.
Some pop science is better than others, and I normally depend on Wired to get the science right. But, when it comes to the science of intelligence, all pop science on the matter is unified on ignoring it in favor of whatever feels good, because the sound science on the matter is just depressing. It is actually a fact that there are people who are born better at math than others. IQ variations are about 60% genetically heritable, IQ being the best measure of general intelligence. Not only that, but general intelligence has two correlated components: spatial and verbal. If you score highly on the spatial component, then you will become better at math easier, and it is probably mostly due to your genes. Maybe it is appropriate to tell education students to give it their best shot, but I think it does more harm than good to tell a general audience untruths based on the outmoded blank slate theory of psychology. It could mean that many more people borrow tens of thousands of dollars taking and retaking algebra, trig and calculus in college, with no degree to show for it, or a degree in a field of study where they can not compete.
http://www.wired.com/2015/05/im-just-not-math-person
http://www.wired.com/2015/05/im-just-not-math-person