05-31-2009, 09:28 PM
While mathematical, musical and linguistic IQ are distinct there is evidence for an underlying single measure of intelligence 'g'. To use a common computer analogy this g is dependent on both RAM and hard disk - we all know that a computer which is good in just one of these aspects is not enough for overall performance. In the case of the brain both of these have clear biological determinants and are hence largely governed by genetics. However, we do not yet understand completely all the genetics behind this as yet (I had posted an article I wrote on this some time back). So just as by fiddling with the software you cannot change the hardware limitations you are left with the impossible task of choosing your parents, if other things are equal e.g. nutrition or health.
This said raw IQ is not enough at the highest levels of science or maths because you need to have a lot of prior knowledge of literature to perform at the cutting edge. This is where training matters and has an effect. Ultimately to be effective you need to know your field well.
In the case of highest brAhmaNa-s they learned the shruti by heart (a test of hard disk) and applied in performing extremely complex shrauta rituals. In this task they had to retrieve parts of the shruti in many different ways and on the fly transform it by applying operators that can be considered analogs of things like the Hamiltonian. The kShatriya-s and other Hindu rulers including enterprising shUdra-s always rewarded such shrauta brAhmaNa-s and kept them at hand by sending them to settle villages. Here, they or members of their family might additionally act as secular advisers who help in directing finances, construction of irrigation systems, town planning and systematizing various forms of knowledge by writing shAstra-s. The older dharma texts (e.g. bodhAyana) say that the brAhmaNa-s who fail to hold the high standards could be used as shUdra-s by the king.
The other groups undergoing their own selection were the vaishya-s and the kAyastha-s. However, once the super-structure that supported this system broke down these few groups could not really salvage India on their own.
This said raw IQ is not enough at the highest levels of science or maths because you need to have a lot of prior knowledge of literature to perform at the cutting edge. This is where training matters and has an effect. Ultimately to be effective you need to know your field well.
In the case of highest brAhmaNa-s they learned the shruti by heart (a test of hard disk) and applied in performing extremely complex shrauta rituals. In this task they had to retrieve parts of the shruti in many different ways and on the fly transform it by applying operators that can be considered analogs of things like the Hamiltonian. The kShatriya-s and other Hindu rulers including enterprising shUdra-s always rewarded such shrauta brAhmaNa-s and kept them at hand by sending them to settle villages. Here, they or members of their family might additionally act as secular advisers who help in directing finances, construction of irrigation systems, town planning and systematizing various forms of knowledge by writing shAstra-s. The older dharma texts (e.g. bodhAyana) say that the brAhmaNa-s who fail to hold the high standards could be used as shUdra-s by the king.
The other groups undergoing their own selection were the vaishya-s and the kAyastha-s. However, once the super-structure that supported this system broke down these few groups could not really salvage India on their own.