r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 20d ago

Neuroscience Twin study suggests rationality and intelligence share the same genetic roots - the study suggests that being irrational, or making illogical choices, might simply be another way of measuring lower intelligence.

https://www.psypost.org/twin-study-suggests-rationality-and-intelligence-share-the-same-genetic-roots/
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u/monadicperception 19d ago

I was on the philosophy track until I got off to go get a JD and make money. Interacting with people outside of philosophy, I found that the thing that was surprising was how there can be smart people who are like AI. There are folks who can argue as nauseam on specific points that really don’t matter practically. They do well on tests but that’s all. They really don’t have honed or developed intuitions that allow them to apply knowledge realistically. I wonder if it’s the lack of life experience or empathy? Not sure what it is.

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u/Cursory_Analysis 19d ago

They do well on tests but that’s all. They really don’t have honed or developed intuitions that allow them to apply knowledge realistically. I wonder if it’s the lack of life experience or empathy? Not sure what it is.

I was always top of the pyramid on standardized tests as well, but you can even break that down to why someone is good at standardized tests. Is it because they studied a ton of material? Is it because they can deduce what the test is trying to get them to choose as an answer? Because the former can perform based on rote memorization while the latter performs based on the ability to work through novel concepts.

For me, it was honing that formal logic and using deductive reasoning. And like you said, it's like a muscle that you have to work out consistently even if you have a natural aptitude for it.

Philosophy forces you to hone that ability through formal logic where you're forced to work through mathematical proofs.

In terms of medicine, I think it's also what you said about lack of real life experience. You can know the entire algorithm for running a code on someone, but some people freeze when they don't have the confidence or experience to deal with someone that's actively dying in their arms.

It's extremely different taking a test on something that gives you every known variable and asking for an answer vs. handing them an actively de-compensating, undifferentiated patient and saying "solve the problem" - with no further information + the added pressure of someones life hanging in the balance.