Tracing talent to its origins probably isn’t ever going to be a precise science, but there’s a particular and pervasive brand of genetic determinism that butts its way into discussions, in scientific circles and in the media, about everything from health to intelligence to the roots of genius. According to author David Shenk, this line of argument leads us to make the wrong conclusions about human potential. —KA
Salon:
David Shenk’s new book, “The Genius in All of Us: Why Everything You’ve Been Told About Genetics, Talent, and IQ Is Wrong,” is 300 pages long, and more than half of those pages are endnotes. You need to offer up a lot of evidence when your goal is to overturn a concept as commonplace as the idea that genes are the “blueprints” for both our physical bodies and our personalities. Above all, what Shenk wants to communicate is that “the whole concept of genetic giftedness turns out to be wildly off the mark—tragically kept afloat for decades by a cascade of misunderstandings and misleading metaphors.” Instead of acquiescing to the belief that talent is a quality we’re either born with or not, he wants us to understand that anyone can aspire to superlative achievement. Hard, persistent and focused work is responsible for greatness, rather than innate ability.
“Today’s popular understanding of genes, heredity and evolution is not just crude, it’s profoundly misleading,” Shenk writes
Wonderful article, Johannes! Just think of all the countless souls that have been stifled because of this popular and harmful belief that genus is in our genes and inherited ~
As the article points out – the environment one grows up in (such as a loving home), encouragement and hard work and perseverance are tremendous factors leading to great achievements ~
Behaved as if we truly believed that nobody is born to mediocrity ~
I feel some have more obstacles to overcome than others such as those born into a poor neighborhood or have harmful people in their lives putting them down .. but those who overcome these obstacles that say they “can’t” ..deserve great praise when they say they “can” – despite all the popular and mainstream beliefs ~
Once again, Johannes, you encourage, uplift and guide to understanding the importance of opening up minds and belief systems ~
Blessings from the heart ~ Coralina ~
“Today’s popular understanding of genes, heredity and evolution is not just crude, it’s profoundly misleading,” Shenk writes
Wonderful article, Johannes! Just think of all the countless souls that have been stifled because of this popular and harmful belief that genius is in our genes and inherited ~
As the article points out – the environment one grows up in (such as a loving home), encouragement and hard work and perseverance are tremendous factors leading to great achievements ~
Behaved as if we truly believed that nobody is born to mediocrity ~
I feel some have more obstacles to overcome than others such as those born into a poor neighborhood or have harmful people in their lives putting them down .. but those who overcome these obstacles that say they “can’t” ..deserve great praise when they say they “can” – despite all the popular and mainstream beliefs ~
Once again, Johannes, you encourage, uplift and guide to understanding the importance of opening up minds and belief systems ~
Blessings from the heart ~ Coralina ~