Why our IQ levels are higher than our grandparents' | James Flynn

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  • Опубліковано 25 вер 2013
  • In 1900, only 3% of Americans practiced professions that were deemed "cognitively demanding." Today, 35% of us do, and we have all learned to be flexible in the way that we think about problems. In this fascinating and fast-paced spin through the cognitive history of the 20th century, moral philosopher James Flynn makes the case that changes in the way we think have had surprising (and not always positive) consequences.
    TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 5 тис.

  • @Noum77
    @Noum77 5 років тому +2630

    "Why our IQ levels are higher than our grandparents?"
    TED: Showing a grandpa smarter than us

    • @notsushi24
      @notsushi24 5 років тому +15

      :)

    • @stephenmason5682
      @stephenmason5682 5 років тому +27

      And that's the problem with his talk, the present generation is shown by testing that their IQ IS lower than previous generation?

    • @josedirks3973
      @josedirks3973 5 років тому +6

      Insert "BRUH" sound clip

    • @randomdude9135
      @randomdude9135 4 роки тому +44

      Ironically, since were smart enough to find out that irony, Ted's statement still holds. ;)

    • @chillkaro911
      @chillkaro911 4 роки тому

      @Lets Give Meg 1 00 000 subs without video challenge Lol Good luck with 100000 Subs, You Just need 99987 more...

  • @joemom2671
    @joemom2671 7 років тому +2537

    This guy would be an awesome grandpa.

    • @RohithRPai
      @RohithRPai 7 років тому +17

      JoeMom Gosh, the same thought crossed my mind

    • @everburningblue
      @everburningblue 7 років тому +150

      "PeePaw, why do people die?"
      "Because they stop asking questions."

    • @bask9401
      @bask9401 6 років тому +1

      Hilarious JoeMom

    • @patrickc7248
      @patrickc7248 6 років тому +1

      Ad you're a ageist.

    • @DanielAnderssson
      @DanielAnderssson 6 років тому +4

      but this grandpa like young boys

  • @watchman-pu7tp
    @watchman-pu7tp 5 років тому +948

    I'm fascinated by people like Flynn, possessing a continuity of though enabling them to move seamlessly from one point or concept to the next, without pause, and without having to rely on notes or to stop to formulate the next thought. His is what a highly organized mind looks like.

    • @istvanglock7445
      @istvanglock7445 5 років тому +113

      He's been saying the same stuff for years, thinking about the same stuff for years, so he's very well rehearsed. Not a detraction, but this is why he's so fluent in the subject matter.

    • @omegapointil5741
      @omegapointil5741 5 років тому

      ...feels like.

    • @brucemarsico6
      @brucemarsico6 5 років тому +2

      Yeah, maybe.But I'll bet he rarely picks up his smutty socks and skid marked under pantsafter he tosses them on the floor.Genius indeed!

    • @TheRABIDdude
      @TheRABIDdude 5 років тому +25

      watchman1872 More likely he's written out this lecture in advance, edited it to flow well, and then learnt it perfectly. Wouldn't you do the same if you were offered a TED talk?

    • @Brumsey99989
      @Brumsey99989 5 років тому +17

      There is no formulation of thought here. This is what it looks like when you've been saying the same, albeit complex stuff for decades. Do the same thing every day for 40 years and even if it's incredibly complex it's going to appear easy.
      One other small bit of importance here, he's wrong. IQ is currently dropping in the west. I'll leave it to you to fill in the blanks as to of why. *Hint: it's probably the first thing that popped in your head.

  • @varun009
    @varun009 5 років тому +534

    Bet this guy tells the most profound bedtime stories. The power of his voice and speech pattern is truly something to behold.

    • @elijahkeallflynn7151
      @elijahkeallflynn7151 4 роки тому +30

      Can confirm. He is my Grandfather.

    • @johnbroomhead1039
      @johnbroomhead1039 4 роки тому +3

      Send u to sleep

    • @iosgameska8232
      @iosgameska8232 4 роки тому +8

      @@elijahkeallflynn7151 I did like two minutes of solid research to see if this was true and I'm pleasantly surprised! How crazy it is to see all the guy's students, and even his grandson in the comment section. Now, to the real question, does he really tell bedtime stories?

    • @elijahkeallflynn7151
      @elijahkeallflynn7151 4 роки тому +22

      @@iosgameska8232 His bedtime stories (from what I remember) were usually strange, irreverent tales featuring bizarre characters and scenarios, ranging from disturbing to mildly amusing.

    • @kneeman9011
      @kneeman9011 4 роки тому +1

      @@elijahkeallflynn7151 Haha that's awesome!

  • @HunterCrim4767
    @HunterCrim4767 8 років тому +1511

    He is speaking a fluid essay.

    • @saqudaa
      @saqudaa 7 років тому +8

      Hunter *fluent essay

    • @HunterCrim4767
      @HunterCrim4767 7 років тому +68

      saqudaa No, i meant fluid. His English is good though. lol

    • @olivierkains1771
      @olivierkains1771 7 років тому +2

      What IS a fluid essay?

    • @TheKillcamweek
      @TheKillcamweek 7 років тому +71

      Olivier Kains He wrote an essay that flows well and doesnt sound robotic.

    • @moslimislam5714
      @moslimislam5714 7 років тому +13

      Hunter He does have his reading glasses on. So it could be.

  • @cumonjugs
    @cumonjugs 8 років тому +733

    16:24
    "And if you're ignorant of history of other countries, you can't do politics"
    Thank you James Flynn

    • @z.deutch1334
      @z.deutch1334 7 років тому +26

      Yes, those who fail to know history are doomed to repeat it

    • @kreaturen
      @kreaturen 6 років тому +57

      You can still be President though 😓

    • @shinlanten
      @shinlanten 6 років тому +8

      I heard the *_"president of the Virgin Islands"_* thinks he's brilliant ;-)

    • @bawkray
      @bawkray 6 років тому +2

      If you don't know about Iesha, you might support Islam

    • @Markus451
      @Markus451 5 років тому +3

      It hasn't hurt Tronald Dump any.

  • @hikareti9503
    @hikareti9503 5 років тому +1200

    He taught me political philosophy at University, fascinating guy.

    • @FleurChat7
      @FleurChat7 5 років тому +18

      which university did you go to?

    • @boiplaying2647
      @boiplaying2647 5 років тому +46

      @@FleurChat7 He teaches in The University of Chicago.

    • @zungm2880
      @zungm2880 5 років тому +85

      @@boiplaying2647 Jimmy actually teaches at University of Otago in New Zealand now! He's writing my exams which I have tomorrow which i am so screwed for

    • @boiplaying2647
      @boiplaying2647 5 років тому +14

      @@zungm2880 Hopefully you'll do fine :)

    • @KytexEdits
      @KytexEdits 5 років тому +9

      @@zungm2880 Did you do fine?

  • @goodstorylover
    @goodstorylover 5 років тому +442

    What a pleasure to listen to someone with enough knowledge, wit and wisdom to speak so clearly, concisely and fluently. And without any props, presentations etc. Beautiful.

    • @markmoore7042
      @markmoore7042 4 роки тому +6

      Amazing what work ethic, IQ, and passion can bring to this world.

    • @TomatoFettuccini
      @TomatoFettuccini 4 роки тому +2

      And totally off-the-cuff. Way impressive.

    • @KumarPawar4
      @KumarPawar4 4 роки тому +1

      Yes. I was listening to this talk and I was so engulfed in it that my dinner got burned and my pan got so hot that the metal base was deformed!

    • @zhenmeng161
      @zhenmeng161 4 роки тому

      goodstorylover Yeah, it seems all sentences are in his mind~perfect

    • @marisa941
      @marisa941 4 роки тому +1

      Wisdom for me is the native people who knows each leaf, each bark that cures diseases, the farmer who knows when and how to plant. My uncle lived in a farm produced all his food, broom, sponge, soap, only went to the city to buy salt. That is wisdom, things that are tangible, you use. People loosing electricity they will just die in starvation.

  • @carlolson932
    @carlolson932 7 років тому +1611

    Man, this guy's speech is freaking jam packed with information

    • @markstuber4731
      @markstuber4731 7 років тому +15

      And some misinformation when he starts giving two sentence history lessons.

    • @PaskoooDude
      @PaskoooDude 7 років тому +13

      really? which sentences?

    • @quarkyquasar893
      @quarkyquasar893 7 років тому +2

      I would like to know too.

    • @HunterCrim4767
      @HunterCrim4767 7 років тому +2

      Mark Stuber soooo? Which ones?

    • @markstuber4731
      @markstuber4731 7 років тому +8

      Hunter If I remember right, he talked as if Afghanistan has been a single enity for thousands of years and it hasn't been. Also, there have been successful military ventures into areas that are now within the current borders of Afghanistan., Also, he is a llittle loose with the definition of lies. Even then, it wasn't the Lucintania incident (by itself) that got us into World War I. Ever heard of the Letter X? There really was such a letter.

  • @SupaL33tKillar
    @SupaL33tKillar 8 років тому +662

    If this guy was my lecturer. I'D GO TO CLASS EVERY DAY. EARLIER. AND STAY BACK FOR EXTRA LESSONS.

    • @misael8200
      @misael8200 8 років тому +2

      retweet

    • @thestopper5165
      @thestopper5165 8 років тому +12

      +SupaL33tKillar *_right_* ?
      People like Prof Flynn are gems, and the few of us who encounter people like Prof Flynn (who, I'm proud to say, is a Prof at a university in my birth nation - New Zealand) usually pass the last two-thirds of their lives in gratitude for the encounter.
      Almost 30 years ago, I went to the first lecture in a subject I had enrolled in to fulfil a sub-major requirement. The subject was ECO2850: 'Economic and Social Issues' and the lecturer was Professor Ross Parish.
      I took the subject because the course title seemed like some bullshit hand-wavey essay-writing gibberish - free marks. I was a bit annoyed that the first lecture was at 4:30 on a Friday and went for 90 minutes - I didn't even bother to check the timetable when I made the subject choice.
      Parish came into the lecture theatre that first Friday and in mid-lecture some doors in my brain sprang open.
      After that first lecture I changed my major, and I have never regretted it.
      Parish was *that good* . Ten years later I was the person he told when his cat (Harry) died: we both cried and I hugged him.
      Prof Flynn has been in my personal pantheon for some time - along with Prof Parish and my PhD supervisor (Prof Peter Dixon).
      Prof Parish is now dead. I am an avid atheist, so I am quietly grateful to the laws of probability for the fact that I made that slightly odd subject choice in 1992. I fervently hope that Profs Dixon and Flynn survive past the point where humans virtualise (another 10 years oughta do it).

    • @abdullahalsallum8570
      @abdullahalsallum8570 7 років тому +6

      im in his class and I do exactly like that.

    • @emad6639
      @emad6639 7 років тому +1

      abdullah alsallum, if you are in his class can you correct his misquote about the Quran? No where in the Quran does it say a person who is raped should be sentenced to death. The Quran does NOT have protections for rapists. If he wanted to convince the "Islamic man" in his example to be more logical and have reason, he should have told the man "Please, READ the Quran and stop following your cultural traditions, because your argument is invalid PER the Quran" Everything else he said may be true, but this is definitely not true. In the video it starts at time 13:12. Please inform him of his error, and ask him to ask TED to cut that portion of this video.

    • @natfailsyoutube8163
      @natfailsyoutube8163 7 років тому +10

      +EM AD: Asking for a portion of the video to be cut out because it seemingly offends you seems a lot like censorship. People have a right to say things even if you think they are objectively incorrect, even if they latter decide it is incorrect (and in such case having some public record might aid further debate/discussion). Further more, I don't believe he ever suggested that the practice he referred to was in the Quran - he described the hypothetical (fictitious) case of a fundamentalist religious person refusing to consider a hypothetical that is not supported by their dogma, because no such case applied to them, and this fictitious, hypothetical person happened to conflate doctrine/dogma for scripture, as such individuals have wont to do. Suggesting ways to further debate the fictitious person misses the point, they were a device to demonstrate a particular failure to "think abstractly".

  • @RidesInforests
    @RidesInforests 5 років тому +615

    If Siri sounded like this i'd actually use it

    • @SpaceflightSimulator
      @SpaceflightSimulator 3 роки тому +3

      You can change Siri into A man

    • @asara8065
      @asara8065 2 роки тому +3

      @@SpaceflightSimulator Lol he’s not talking about the gender of some apple robot, it’s about the appeal of a robot which could actually sound philosophical. Unlike current mainstream bots like Siri or Alexa that can barely even schedule a meeting properly, let alone hold a conversation.

    • @lindalane9496
      @lindalane9496 2 роки тому

      you can change Siri into almost any sounding voice

  • @danielcopeland3544
    @danielcopeland3544 3 роки тому +97

    Sadly, I have learned today that Professor James Flynn has died.

  • @StealthyDead
    @StealthyDead 6 років тому +348

    I love this. No powerpoint needed. Just a man talking about incredibly interesting information.

    • @Baamthe25th
      @Baamthe25th 5 років тому +9

      No useless fluff/talking to us like children like in other TED talks too. Professors are the best

  • @Gingnose
    @Gingnose Рік тому +22

    His father born in 1885, wow
    Edit: Dr. Flynn born in 1934 so his father was 49 yo when James was born!
    And I knew he died 2 years ago, Rest in Peace. He is a very dedicated philosopher, thanks for the work.

  • @iwantaplushia8307
    @iwantaplushia8307 3 роки тому +12

    Rest in peace, Flynn

  • @fryingraijin
    @fryingraijin 5 років тому +451

    Certified badass.
    He just walked off. What

    • @farticlesofconflatulation
      @farticlesofconflatulation 5 років тому +13

      Kirkology mic drop

    • @UWfalcin
      @UWfalcin 5 років тому +5

      Probably assburgers.

    • @pdx96
      @pdx96 4 роки тому

      lol I know right? What about the QA session?

    • @jonasdj11
      @jonasdj11 4 роки тому +4

      Our IQ's might have become higher, but we'll never again match this level of savageness.

    • @jonasdj11
      @jonasdj11 4 роки тому

      @S. O. Me neither, but the way he just took off was enough for me to get the message somehow

  • @MathematicianDr
    @MathematicianDr 8 років тому +884

    What an awesome speaker! I didn't move an inch throughout watching this, and listened with full concentration.

    • @xXxTr0nxXx
      @xXxTr0nxXx 8 років тому +9

      +All men Must die So he's boring if he concentrates on a topic and gains knowledge? I'd say people with no knowledge about any topics are boring.

    • @LucisFerre1
      @LucisFerre1 8 років тому +4

      +All men Must die
      Because trolls are concrete thinkers that are incapable of joining in abstract-concept containing conversations.

    • @khorps4756
      @khorps4756 8 років тому +5

      same, i was so glued to my seat i didnt even get up to get a drink

    • @tommarcus5555
      @tommarcus5555 7 років тому

      flynn is not backed up by many people
      there is diff in iq among races

    • @danielcopeland3544
      @danielcopeland3544 7 років тому +4

      Flynn is one of the people researching IQ and race, and he disagrees with you, Tom Marcus.

  • @Doomcraftian
    @Doomcraftian 7 років тому +522

    His voice is like a crisp buttered bagel

    • @roycbiv
      @roycbiv 5 років тому +18

      Perpetua Lux this simile would not have worked 100 years ago

    • @dddmemaybe
      @dddmemaybe 5 років тому +5

      wtf lol, this is so weird but also weirdly accurate.

    • @BelaCurcio
      @BelaCurcio 5 років тому +7

      Now I wish I could hear him say "crisp buttered bagel"

    • @markkeen341
      @markkeen341 5 років тому

      Paul Harvey - like tone- Great radio voice.

    • @pcnav4095
      @pcnav4095 5 років тому

      I didn't experience that.

  • @lunasacra9471
    @lunasacra9471 4 роки тому +141

    Wow! weird concept to think about, I honestly have had debates with my grandparents about morals and using logic and hypotheticals never works. I never stopped to think that they don't think this way.

    • @52darcey
      @52darcey 4 роки тому +1

      Luna - have you checked out MBTI personality types too? The S/N perceiving function explains this difference in method of understanding too.

    • @Harriett2423
      @Harriett2423 4 роки тому +5

      @@52darcey mbti is pseudoscientific bullshit

    • @starx8775
      @starx8775 3 роки тому +1

      I honestly think ... and yes I'm being all conspiracy here, that the Tartarian theory is right. Our generation is just closer to how we were before most societies were re-structured into corporatism. Because men of old and classic philosophy is all about logic, morals, hypotheticals etc. Grandparents, if they had such a lovely traditional era as they say, should be aware of that to some extent. Of course it depends on class too, I guess we have more access to it with the online world

    • @AM-fh7ek
      @AM-fh7ek 3 роки тому +5

      @@starx8775 people back in the day didn't even have school everywhere and even if they did, they stayed at home and helped with work so the family could survive and not starve. My grandmother raised almost all of her siblings as a child when having a blind mother and living in a run down house. Lifr was much more different, not to mention the wars. Learn history first.

    • @Valchrist1313
      @Valchrist1313 9 місяців тому

      @@starx8775 Guess you've never read Plato's Republic...
      I doubt you and he would agree all that much on morality and ethics.
      "Socrates claims that any illness requiring constant medical attention is too unhealthy to be worth living. By analogy, any society that requires constant litigation is too unhealthy to be worth maintaining.
      Socrates asserts that both male and female guardians be given the same education, that all wives and children be shared, and that they be prohibited from owning private property
      Socrates presents the 'Noble Lie' to convince everyone in the city to perform their social role. All are born from the womb of their mother country, so that all are siblings, but their natures are different, each containing either gold (guardians), silver (auxiliaries), or bronze or iron (producers).
      If anyone with a bronze or iron nature rules the city, it will be destroyed. Socrates claims that if the people believed "this myth...[it] would have a good effect, making them more inclined to care for the state and one another.
      Finally, Socrates defines justice in the city as the state in which each class performs only its own work, not meddling in the work of the other classes"
      -human reproduction ought to be regulated by the state and all offspring should be ignorant of their actual biological parents
      Socrates tells a tale which is the "allegory of the good government". The rulers assemble couples for reproduction, based on breeding criteria. Thus, stable population is achieved through eugenics and social cohesion is projected to be high because familial links are extended towards everyone in the city. Also the education of the youth is such that they are taught of only works of writing that encourage them to improve themselves for the state's good, and envision (the) god(s) as entirely good, just, and the author(s) of only that which is good.

  • @petersmythe6462
    @petersmythe6462 3 роки тому +147

    Worth pointing out that this means we should expect the development of high IQs wherever literacy, education, and technically complex professions develop. In other words, IQ differences by country are not innate but a function of material conditions.

    • @sosanamin1927
      @sosanamin1927 2 роки тому +2

      Yes!

    • @JH-jo9wt
      @JH-jo9wt Рік тому +3

      The science doesnt suggest that. The uncomfortable truth is that just like hair colour, eye colour, height, weight, IQ is genetic.
      For eg very poor under resourced Chinese peasant famer kids score higher than wealthy African Americans who live in households earning over 200k
      The sad part is that it is not something you can change overnight

    • @AceofDlamonds
      @AceofDlamonds Рік тому +14

      @@JH-jo9wt
      You're oversimplifying this. In fact your own example of height is undercut by the fact that Northeast Asians who've experienced the greatest industrialization over the last 100 years, have grown significantly taller, approaching the stats of some European countries. But analogy aside, show us your source for the "Chinese peasant farmer" outperforming the wealthy African. And is it really appropriate to extrapolate this example to the group level? And is the "wealth" of this African obtained in the context of overall higher living and societal standards? You know, not just some dude who got rich as an outlier.

    • @JH-jo9wt
      @JH-jo9wt Рік тому +2

      @@AceofDlamonds Your making the incorrect assumption that IQ cant change. Its well documented that African Americans have a 10 pt standard deviation higher than their African bretheren. However there seems to be a plateu in the 85 region once in the west. Just as i imagine those same asians you referenced in height will not be the 7ft monsters you routinely see in the NBA.
      If i showed you the source would it change your mind or are you convinced it doesnt exist. Asians scoring higher than blacks is not even up for debate.
      Whether it is appropriate to extrapolate to the group sample is something called statistical averages. It is appropriate? who cares this is not a topic for people who are easily offended.
      Its household wealth - where the median household wealth was over 200k not a single black guy who got rich🤦‍♂🤦‍♂
      Why would they take a sample of 1 wealthy black guy......oh forget it

    • @AceofDlamonds
      @AceofDlamonds Рік тому +4

      @@JH-jo9wt
      Where the heck am I making the assumption that IQ can't change? My own example in my first reply to you suggests I'm making the point that it DOES. Second, the NBA is not a great counteranalogy and you must know this. It's obviously a very small sample size taken from the average. Go look at the Chinese national basketball roster for men and women (Still very much a developing country by the way). They are not far off from developed countries' pro basketball heights at all, and basketball isn't even as huge there as it could be culturally speaking. I'm speaking on Averages at the Population level, the only place where all this discussion about average traits and metrics makes any sense at all, DUH.
      And most importantly, the point is not that there isn't an average plateau or different statistically significant cutoffs, but you have NO IDEA where that plateau should start given the same conditions for full physiological development. The best we can do is wait and observe without inserting our own biases into the data because populations are still very much changing. Countries that have been historically raped of their resources or people or have bad economic trends usually do have people not as smart as people in developed countries.

  • @zengamer321
    @zengamer321 7 років тому +2326

    We need to teach philosophy in school. At least logic.

    • @zengamer321
      @zengamer321 7 років тому +113

      ***** Yeah. My high school offered philosophy but not all schools do. More than that though, I think it needs to be mandatory. In my school, it was mandatory to learn rhetorics but not logic. That's kinda backwards isn't it? Learn to lie but not how to find the truth.

    • @indre_7077
      @indre_7077 7 років тому +9

      we got to choose between religious classes and so called ethics here, they're mandotory, in ethics we basicly talked about philosophy and psycology which was nice... :)

    • @zengamer321
      @zengamer321 7 років тому +73

      _dnimfoetats _
      "choose between religious class and ethics"
      lol that's hilarious.
      Hey there! Do you wanna learn about what you should do according to reason or dogma?

    • @indre_7077
      @indre_7077 7 років тому +20

      antimatterdragon321 yeah I also went to a religious school and we studied and recited the bible for an hour once a week and did our prayers every morning before the classes started... it's ridiculous tbh :/

    • @SkyTheBlessed
      @SkyTheBlessed 7 років тому +39

      In my country philosophy, logic, sociology, psychology, history, geography and constitution(of varying types and from many nations, includes human rights aswell) are core. I think those are really important for a developing citizen which will have the right to influence the politics in the country or pursue academic goals.

  • @alexmelillo1247
    @alexmelillo1247 7 років тому +219

    As time goes on, this speech will become more and more relevant. Also, love the way this man speaks!

    • @CoolGuyCoolFly
      @CoolGuyCoolFly 7 років тому +22

      Alex Melillo He's the White Morgan Freeman.

    • @analeesedonaat6229
      @analeesedonaat6229 7 років тому +1

      Yup! Millenials are on the way.

    • @rjones2209
      @rjones2209 5 років тому

      On the contrary this speech becomes more and more wrong.
      Dr Flynn's theory is fundamentally incorrect in important ways. You can see the correct understanding in this paper:
      www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886915001622
      and you can download a free copy of it at
      www.researchgate.net/publication/273789709_Rising-falling_mercury_pollution_causing_the_rising-falling_IQ_of_the_Lynn-Flynn_effect_as_predicted_by_the_antiinnatia_theory_of_autism_and_IQ

    • @gistfilm
      @gistfilm Рік тому

      As time goes on, Flynn is more and more discredited...

  • @robinannaniaz9670
    @robinannaniaz9670 5 років тому +16

    For a long time I hadn't have the feeling of being mentored by a wise teacher. If I had read his material, I'd have imagined him looking exactly like this: wise grandpa with white beard.
    During this 18 minutes, I feel like I grew a decade. Thank you so much Mr. Flynn

  • @Gqunu
    @Gqunu 4 роки тому +33

    Thanks Prof James Flynn for your talk! I am from Africa, I can see the benefits of an education, in things like life choices and healthy life styles, even conflict resolution, and the ability to advance in life. Education is definitely something beneficial to humans.

  • @rumble1925
    @rumble1925 7 років тому +82

    I'm watching this and all I can think of is the huge difference in the quality of this talk and the average TEDx talk.

    • @MrCmon113
      @MrCmon113 5 років тому +6

      Because it's a TED talk without the X. TEDx is people talking about how bad masturbating is and how they are Muslim feminists etc.

    • @jamescarmody4713
      @jamescarmody4713 5 років тому +2

      You like this because it's philosophy; know that many TED Talks do not deal with such universal subject matter, while many TEDx Talks do. I've seen TED Talks that were underwhelming and TEDx Talks that blew me away. Flynn essentially gave this talk rather than write a book-I think you can agree even most TED Talks can't claim the same.

    • @274pacific
      @274pacific 5 років тому

      You mean you didn't like the ones about how to tie your shoes or dry your hands with one paper towel? Mild shock :o

    • @matthewanderson7123
      @matthewanderson7123 5 років тому +1

      So I can explain at least part of that. Prof. Flynn has been a University lecturer and author for the better part of forty years. He also spends a chunk of time testifying in the US about this topic as the US does not execute those below a certain IQ level - Flynn argues that the level was set years ago and therefore should be higher.
      Prof Flynn taught for years Pols 101 (political philosophy) and Pols 205 (Morality and the Market). I know this because I’m lucky enough to say I attended both those classes

  • @claudealpha2090
    @claudealpha2090 5 років тому +260

    Speech increased to 100.

    • @kevinsaysyuh
      @kevinsaysyuh 5 років тому +6

      Passive skill: when giving an explanation hp, atk, and def +120%; atk +12% per right point made

  • @Tchild2
    @Tchild2 5 років тому +47

    I could listen to James Flynn all day. Lucid, straightforward and almost no ummms or uhhhs.

  • @shamsulislam1350
    @shamsulislam1350 5 років тому +21

    I wish I would have a grandpa like him. What a wonderful speech. Love it.

  • @galanoth17
    @galanoth17 10 років тому +16

    This guy seems like a wise sage that you see in cartoons that tells parables to the children to teach them moral lessons. He's got the posture, the voice, the hair and everything.

  • @SirPage13
    @SirPage13 8 років тому +408

    This man is brilliant! Very interesting speech!

    • @strewf
      @strewf 8 років тому

      +Levi Page That's what they said at Nuremberg.

    • @strewf
      @strewf 8 років тому +7

      ***** Maybe they should make the IQ tests more mixed child-oriented. Racism won't go away until fear goes away. Your post is the modern equivalent of a tribe of naked men waving spears and sticking tongues out at strangers approaching.

    • @anguskappa5637
      @anguskappa5637 8 років тому +1

      da faq, dude i am mixed and have an IQ of 157

    • @anguskappa5637
      @anguskappa5637 8 років тому

      also removing this comment, agaisnt youtube rules

    • @strewf
      @strewf 8 років тому +2

      SuperXrunner I don't have a low IQ.

  • @Salmontres
    @Salmontres 11 місяців тому +3

    never actually heard the flynn effect discussed by flynn himself. Rest in peace my brother!

  • @garthdownton8645
    @garthdownton8645 5 років тому +6

    " the more I know the less I understand, all the things I thought I'd figured out I have to learn again"... Heart of the Matter. Don Henley!

  • @MatthewR8864
    @MatthewR8864 8 років тому +488

    who else loves this guys voice. Him and Morgan Freeman together would be amazing.

    • @jamesof7seven
      @jamesof7seven 8 років тому +7

      +matt rashty yeah, a nice, rhythmic fast clip... like a conman.

    • @Crick1952
      @Crick1952 8 років тому +3

      +Winston Smith Exactly! They know how to speak!

    • @louiswouters71
      @louiswouters71 6 років тому +2

      There´s a touch of stephen hawkings voice in there as well.

    • @AltoSilver
      @AltoSilver 6 років тому

      Louis Wouters His voice right now is just a robotic program able to read his mind to some extent so it can tell you what he wants to say.
      It's slightly inaccurate, though. Not as inaccurate as AutoCorrect, but not perfect.

    • @ThePhilBest
      @ThePhilBest 5 років тому

      The New Zealand accent is part of it (this guy grew up there). Have a look at a video of a famously eloquent NZ Prime Minister, David Lange, at the Oxford Union Debate. Different tone of voice, but same accent.

  • @tyler-iy4jk
    @tyler-iy4jk 5 років тому +722

    He put his finger on something that i've experienced in many online debates but was never able to concretely realize. It's futile to debate with some people who can't consider hypotheticals, and that it's a common thread between racist and bigots.

    • @zipzap8937
      @zipzap8937 5 років тому +59

      Once you're willing to believe something that is untrue you can't then reason your way out of it.

    • @johncharleson8733
      @johncharleson8733 5 років тому +23

      Nichy Steves Or maybe the "smart" set is not willing to acknowledge it's hidden bias/desires--thus using the appearance of reason as a method of fostering a hidden agenda!

    • @tyler-iy4jk
      @tyler-iy4jk 5 років тому +60

      John Charleson That sounds like post modernist crap. How can you argue against a suspected hidden agenda and not the merit of the argument? Use examples instead of speaking so cryptically. To me(assuming from context) it appears you're characterizing people who are not racist as having a hidden agenda. To respond to that, of course they have an agenda it's not meant to be hidden. Some may have alternative motives acting on a purely performative basis, but how can you strawman all with that characterization?

    • @mykofreder1682
      @mykofreder1682 5 років тому +22

      It's the industrialization of the education that started about the time IQ tests were invented. Countries saw their success and ability to compete against their neighbors or world based on education level, it was positive feedback on improving education. The education system used success, studies and scientific method to produce a standard, effective product over time. You could take a 1 week cave baby from 20000 years ago and deliver it to a suburban family and that person would probably get through our system and probably come out with typical results.

    • @st3ppenwolf
      @st3ppenwolf 5 років тому +25

      SJWs go to the other extreme and everything is a hypothetical for them.. everything should be looked at through the lens of postmodernism

  • @DonOmarRamiro
    @DonOmarRamiro 4 роки тому +3

    I had to pause every 3 or 4 minutes to let his ideas sink in. How flawless, seamlessly he goes from one idea to another one is amazing. A well-organized mind, he has.

  • @beachbum4691
    @beachbum4691 5 років тому +90

    "WOW" And people wonder that UA-cam is displacing television amongst those who like Informative programmes/Documentaries. Thank you James Flynn for your logic based eloquence.

    • @stephenraymond8414
      @stephenraymond8414 5 років тому +2

      As long as they would just leave eveyone alone they dont like or agree with...

    • @johnnastrom9400
      @johnnastrom9400 5 років тому +4

      John -- While there is a lot of good content on UA-cam, this presentation by Flynn is not one of them. The ideas he presents here are widely disputed. Recent studies are pointing to a drop in IQ in western countries.

    • @BelaPuma
      @BelaPuma 5 років тому +3

      @john nastrom well yea america

    • @johnnastrom9400
      @johnnastrom9400 5 років тому +4

      @@BelaPuma-- "western countries" includes Europe also. Look it up.

    • @FredPlanatia
      @FredPlanatia 2 роки тому

      @@johnnastrom9400 According to Wikipedia the reversal of this trend in IQ test performance over generations was observed in certain countries, Denmark, German-speaking countries, Australia being among them starting in the 1990's. That there was a general increase in performance from generation to generation since the beginning of testing seems undisputed. The aforementioned reversal in certain 'western countries' has been attributed to cultural changes which reduce performance on certain parts of the test. However the general trend of increasing performance has continued in most other countries. So your statement that these ideas are 'highly disputed' and that this presentation is 'not good content' seems unwarranted.

  • @KosmicAura
    @KosmicAura 7 років тому +177

    This guy has so much swag

  • @luclachapelle8065
    @luclachapelle8065 6 років тому +255

    We stand on the shoulders of giants. Everyone learns about Newton’s laws of motion in 6th grade. However many years ago that was on the cusp of theoretical thought. Newton was significantly more intelligent than the average sixth grader, except he didn’t have the same information available to him.

    • @TheTariqibnziyad
      @TheTariqibnziyad 5 років тому +21

      Luc Lachapelle you just learn about it or apply it, but Newton invented it...huuuge difference.

    • @mrnayger5690
      @mrnayger5690 5 років тому +4

      So what's your point? Newton was a one-off genius in his time, don't compare him to an average sixth grader

    • @dddmemaybe
      @dddmemaybe 5 років тому +5

      The point is one that James Flynn constantly (low-key albeit) references to in this video. About people these days having exceptionally greater tools of learning in pretty much every field (except for teacher-power in the vast majority of public schooling and somewhat college too, but that's just my angle 'ere in parenthesis). The problem with op's comment is that schools have been using isaac newton's junk from 1800's~, at least most likely, I can't be certain to be honest.

    • @faoladh5177
      @faoladh5177 5 років тому +2

      @@TheTariqibnziyad Not to detract from Newton but he didn't invent "it"! He observed/discovered the behavior of objects and energies in the physical realm and documented those observation. And though he was a mathematical genius and had the forethought to document those observations, any 6th grader is intuitively aware of many of those principles also, and also through observation, albeit subconsciously. Children make hand fans and paper planes displaying an intuitive understanding of aero dynamics, and fluid dynamics. Children learn not to touch hot things through experience, displaying at least a simple understanding of thermodynamics. Children learn through experience an understanding of Gravity as they tend to fall down a lot during their first years. Centuries and in some cases millenia before Isaac Newton was born there were ships, houses, architectural megaliths, astronomy and even electricity. All displaying an understanding of physics at least on par with Newton. Newton merely canonised these long understood principles into laws of physics.

    • @Giemma3
      @Giemma3 5 років тому +9

      @erijon3 lol no. Newton and Einstein were geniuses way more capable than you, me and 100 others put together.
      They had half or even less the tools availiable we have. Newton invented calculus by the time he was 26. Im a year younger and can barely differentiate and integrate simple equations.
      Just face it: there are stupid people in this world. And by stupid I really mean "not capable of higher thought". There are also very fucking intelligent ones. And then there's us, average persons. I guess ;)

  • @drdyno85
    @drdyno85 3 роки тому +23

    Rest in peace, wise man!
    James Flynn (1934-2020)

  • @Peace-oz5mt
    @Peace-oz5mt 5 років тому +95

    Other ted talkers need to learn something from this talk! No unfunny jokes , no excessive hand gestures, no images !
    But far more attention seeking
    Pure Informational speech !

    • @D-Vinko
      @D-Vinko 4 роки тому +5

      Entertainment makes you remember things better.
      Logistically, this talk is worse than the others.
      He SHOULD'VE used entertainment as to force memory.

    • @jack.1.
      @jack.1. 4 роки тому +3

      But not many talkers can do what he did and the hand gestures and images will be better for their presentation than a pure speech in many cases

    • @MarkSmith-ud4sd
      @MarkSmith-ud4sd 3 роки тому +5

      He has a fluidity of speech that rolls off the tongue. Very easy to follow which is hard to do when making complex issues palatable to the average layman.

  • @robertbohrer7501
    @robertbohrer7501 8 років тому +243

    Eighteen minutes, excellent presentation, stays on topic, completely winging it? This guy is an amazing speaker.

    • @josephdavidson3608
      @josephdavidson3608 6 років тому +29

      Who says he's winging it???

    • @Micras08
      @Micras08 6 років тому +10

      I highly doubt he is winging it. I believe the guy has memorized most of his material by working within the same frame of mind day in and day out :)

  • @philschwartz6874
    @philschwartz6874 6 років тому +19

    One of the best TED presentations I've seen. Kudos Mr. Flynn

  • @Rozegolden
    @Rozegolden 4 роки тому +1

    I would love to just sit down with this grandpa and have him talk to me all day. His voice is so soothing and he’s just so full of wisdom and knowledge.

  • @littlemrpinkness295
    @littlemrpinkness295 2 роки тому +3

    This is the most intelligent and insightful TED Talk I have ever heard.
    This is endlessly enlightening. I'm going to need to mull this over, and watch it a couple more times.
    I've never felt so excited and illuminated at the end of a TED Talk.

    • @kingy002
      @kingy002 Рік тому

      Search his interviews out with Kim Hill here in New Zealand. There are two podcasts of her interviewing James. He had such a crisp intellect.

  • @ScrapComputer
    @ScrapComputer 10 років тому +349

    Powerful. History is the great teller :)

    • @vebsan8821
      @vebsan8821 6 років тому +4

      dont use your time on this old man, make me some league videos xd

    • @truth364
      @truth364 6 років тому

      smart people!! I don't understand why he said who have you ever know who woke up in the morning?????? that means he wakes up really late in the morning so that he doesn't know who has woken up first?? I DONT GET IT!!

    • @warwickthekingmaker7281
      @warwickthekingmaker7281 6 років тому +3

      probably not. Thing is, as terms of living get better in the third world, their population boom starts to decline, until eventually it will stagnate.

    • @hackeritalics
      @hackeritalics 6 років тому +3

      Justina Choi what he actually said is "How many people have you seen wake up Black in the morning. " This is to show that they were unable to feel empathy for their black brothers and sisters because they couldn't consider what it is like to be black. They couldn't say "If my skin was black i would be treated inferior in ways unrelated to my appearance and that would make me sad. " He is showing that they couldn't take the hypothetical seriously.
      I hope that answered your question.

    • @omarvillegasjimenez482
      @omarvillegasjimenez482 6 років тому

      ScrapComputer I

  • @xeno2752
    @xeno2752 5 років тому +63

    The people he's talking about did not disappear. TED-Ed's riddle videos comment section is full of them.

    • @aleksythehorse5984
      @aleksythehorse5984 5 років тому +4

      They're joking. It's obvious what riddle asks for but it's entertaining to find a work-around using common sense.

    • @prof.m.ottozeeejcdecs9998
      @prof.m.ottozeeejcdecs9998 5 років тому

      Right, and one of them is TRUMPf...😋

  • @coreyfleener6685
    @coreyfleener6685 5 років тому +29

    Not to be a stickler but I didn't see a correction made in the comments; the final quote is not from Charles Dickens (1812-1870), rather it is from Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) in a short poem entitled The Ladies.. Fun Fact: Kipling also wrote The Jungle Book volumes

    • @ncedwards1234
      @ncedwards1234 4 роки тому +2

      It was made in the subtitles, thought most people don't use those.

    • @jaygagne8449
      @jaygagne8449 Рік тому

      I always use the subtitles

  • @donwhitmire978
    @donwhitmire978 5 років тому +3

    My 5 year old grandson drew a complex scribble picture that looked something like a lot of machines with conveyor belts. He called it a "contraption" and spent some time explaining what it did. I loved him and happily accepted the absurd as common sense and actually began to understand his "contraption". It all made perfect sense until he stopped talking and I really had to hug him.

  • @lexn5739
    @lexn5739 6 років тому +1742

    There was no Rick&Morty 60 years ago

    • @thatguywhois
      @thatguywhois 6 років тому +21

      wobba lobba dub dub \m/

    • @terrymoose6651
      @terrymoose6651 6 років тому +7

      Top kek.

    • @bikalimark
      @bikalimark 6 років тому +24

      200IQ for everyone

    • @treck87
      @treck87 6 років тому +32

      Rick and Morty is for low IQ idiots who are always "bored" and need to be entertained, so they find out a few things through a sarcastic cartoon.

    • @gamercatsz5441
      @gamercatsz5441 6 років тому +15

      +
      Kaleb Soehardjo
      Are you in pain? Do you need help?

  • @mauricioprado6395
    @mauricioprado6395 8 років тому +232

    **drops mic, wals away**

    • @Shadow-zf5uc
      @Shadow-zf5uc 8 років тому +26

      Yes, many people often "wals" away after they're done talking.

    • @2thomask
      @2thomask 8 років тому +20

      +Shadow 2550 it would have been better if he waltzed away

  • @Midnight_Rider96
    @Midnight_Rider96 5 років тому +106

    Better nutrition is a factor as well. Unfortunately it seems that people's moral loyalties are more up for grabs, since they can appreciate arguments that appear universal and logical, but lack the analytical ability to get to the bottom and make rational judgments.

    • @theman1860
      @theman1860 5 років тому +14

      This is an underrated comment! You've pinpointed the source of the problem. The solution could be to implement critical thinking classes in college and high school to teach people how to sort out the difference between what appears to be logical and universal and what actually is. I often find myself in these cognitive pitfalls where I ascribe to a certain idea because it seems appealing and rational at the time, but later on realize that I was completely naive/wrong (inefficient way of thinking).

    • @thishandleistaken1011
      @thishandleistaken1011 4 роки тому +4

      @@theman1860 A critical thinking class I think would have to consist of a statistics class, going over common statistical biases and the like. As well as just examples of cognitive biases, examples of pitfalls, etc. You can't really "teach" thinking so much as show people towards it.

    • @theman1860
      @theman1860 4 роки тому

      @@thishandleistaken1011 You actually can teach it! Well, sort of. There's definitively a method to the madness as they say. What you said is really helpful, teaching people the common cognitive biases and basic statistical analysis would be very beneficial. However, you can also teach people how to break down a problem into individual components or smaller problems and tackle each on its own. Teaching people critical thinking strategies (like they do in Business Schools and in literature majors) would be a good idea. If you want to develop it even further, you can go so far as to teach people abstract thinking and various research methodologies as well as how to read research papers and where to access them. My old high school used to incorporate critical thinking into their courses. For example, math problems would force you to think outside the box, using what you learned to derive the answer. Similarly, language courses (such as English and French) used to incorporate critical thinking through comprehension problems. You're given a text/excerpt and then you're asked some questions to test your understanding of said text. Some of those questions would force you to follow statements within the text to their logical conclusions to find the answer.

    • @tangguhsulthan5013
      @tangguhsulthan5013 2 роки тому

      Heterosis made brain evolving and iq increase

    • @dabisnit
      @dabisnit 2 роки тому

      Less lead in paint and gasoline

  • @Chimonger1
    @Chimonger1 4 роки тому +9

    Huh...very good talk! Helps explain why my dad often discredited my ideas...it never occurred to me, way back then, that he simply couldn’t open his mind on some things...he was very similar to this guy, but stuck on some things... I remember, in the 1950’s, telling dad, “it sure looks like all the continents used to all fit together...now the continents are like puzzle pieces fallen out of their box”....he said, emphatically, “that’s impossible! There’s no proofs that continents move like that!”
    But not much more than about 10 yrs later, science did prove it. And so much more!

  • @tristanmoller9498
    @tristanmoller9498 6 років тому +110

    This guy should narrate documentaries

    • @ArabXian
      @ArabXian 5 років тому +2

      Oh lord... what do you want him to do? Put everyone to sleep???

    • @prof.m.ottozeeejcdecs9998
      @prof.m.ottozeeejcdecs9998 5 років тому +4

      @@ArabXian ...and you are a very ignorant person... one of those he mentioned! No harm done, as you did not get it! 😋

    • @aquilazyy1125
      @aquilazyy1125 5 років тому +1

      That would be a waste of such a fascinating mind

  • @poobum9857
    @poobum9857 7 років тому +7

    one of the best TT thanks professor - presented in a genuine natural way

  • @princenegi1886
    @princenegi1886 3 роки тому

    He speaks with such rhythm.Just enormously inspiring.

  • @birhan2006
    @birhan2006 5 років тому +46

    James Flynn just dropped the mic

  • @SueMoseley
    @SueMoseley 8 років тому +8

    Fascinating talk.

  • @zaynabshaik5340
    @zaynabshaik5340 4 роки тому +3

    What an engaging speaker, brilliant!

  • @christopherhorruitiner1067
    @christopherhorruitiner1067 5 років тому +66

    Going back even further, low performance was linked with poor nutrition.

    • @halgraves4800
      @halgraves4800 5 років тому +5

      Now a days excesive nutrition is the scurge of many nations as seen in the rise of methabolic diseases and stupidity is also as widespread.

    • @VarisLux
      @VarisLux 5 років тому +1

      Living on a farm with fresh bacon and eggs for breakfast, freshly made bread and nearly all food was organic with fresh milk and in season. Water came out of a well. All food was cooked by your mother or wife.
      How is that bad nutrition compared to the junk food of today?

    • @ncedwards1234
      @ncedwards1234 4 роки тому +7

      @@VarisLux
      How many people had freshly made food like that every day back then? How many people were starving then compared to now?

    • @brentmcgee1534
      @brentmcgee1534 4 роки тому +3

      you gonna get on a boat and ride across the ocean for two months , live with no air conditioning wearing layers of crap , no fridge . they was hard core

    • @joeallen7172
      @joeallen7172 4 роки тому +1

      @@halgraves4800 I think you'll find that it was the older generations that voted in trump.

  • @dirtrockground4543
    @dirtrockground4543 3 роки тому +3

    RIP James Flynn

  • @MrNeutross
    @MrNeutross 6 років тому +15

    Great Talk! He doens't sound like the typical Ted-speaker who almost all of them have a similar way of speaking

  • @roberttompkins6489
    @roberttompkins6489 5 років тому +7

    The only thing wrong with his thesis is that although I have a PhD in biology, and thus considered more educated than my ancestors, my grandfather with a 4th grade education could build a chicken coop, work on a car, build furniture, raise and slaughter animals, till the earth, and many other skills that I would have much difficulty performing. So, am I really smarter than he was?

    • @ericloveday3647
      @ericloveday3647 5 років тому +2

      No. All knowledge is valuable. Self sufficiency though is a dying asset. We could stand to regain some of that knowledge

    • @Impala-qp9cb
      @Impala-qp9cb 5 років тому +1

      Yeah he basically threw the industrial age generation under the bus. You know, the one that championed the internal combustion engine and their kids who rocketed man to the moon barely weened off of horse travel. Meanwhile Doctors in the same time frame were selling snake oil and he dares throw in lecturers as one of the 4 cognitive groups to exist circa 1900, who are usually lifetime academics usually with little hands on LEARNING experience outside of theory. Everyone has their place. While I don't doubt humans are getting smarter as time goes on, comparing current generations to those 100 years ago to dunces compared to us is intellectually ignoring the complete spectrum of humanity over time and its variables.

  • @user-gx6sg4tb9s
    @user-gx6sg4tb9s 5 років тому +1

    Wow. He’s so well spoken and fluent it’s very interesting to listen to him. Doesn’t even have to rely on gestures or orator tricks.

  • @dennylou1888
    @dennylou1888 5 років тому

    Great talk and spread of good information!

  • @FujibearGames
    @FujibearGames 9 років тому +14

    what's interesting is that we are getting smarter according to tests, but still acting dumber in real life.

    • @talknight2
      @talknight2 6 років тому +4

      Good point. Life is just easy and safe now thanks to technology and progressive laws, so you don't have to be so damn serious all the time to survive :D

    • @PDeRop
      @PDeRop 5 років тому

      Did those who say something is dumb.. also get smarter?

  • @ethicalphytophage
    @ethicalphytophage 8 років тому +15

    Great talk. I think he meant Kipling, not Dickens.

    • @alexvossmeyer787
      @alexvossmeyer787 7 років тому +1

      I thought it was just me. Pretty ironic in context...

  • @cesarmaldonadomercad
    @cesarmaldonadomercad 2 роки тому

    Precious talk. Thank you for sharing.

  • @heatherasay8939
    @heatherasay8939 5 років тому +1

    what an absolutely captivating voice!. I could listen to him all day.. would love to take his class.

  • @dddmemaybe
    @dddmemaybe 5 років тому +3

    I think this is my favorite Ted talk of all time.

  • @movere358
    @movere358 8 років тому +159

    So this is the guy who coined the *"Flynn Effect."*

    • @saltyman7888
      @saltyman7888 7 років тому +2

      did he make it or was it named after him im not sure

    • @thomasrichardson5425
      @thomasrichardson5425 7 років тому +31

      He didnt make it, its a phenomenon that happens and he discovered it :) it's like Newton didnt make gravity :P

    • @saltyman7888
      @saltyman7888 7 років тому +4

      Thomas Richardson
      no what i mean is:
      did he COIN the term himself or was it named for him?
      We don't call it the Newton force.

    • @minhucovu6321
      @minhucovu6321 7 років тому +25

      we call the unit of force Newton xD

    • @VinceTheMincer
      @VinceTheMincer 7 років тому +19

      Yes he did coin the Flynn effect. He is currently a professor at the University of Otago in New Zealand

  • @Snipe4261
    @Snipe4261 5 років тому

    Thanks, that was really interesting.

  • @RenAok
    @RenAok 3 роки тому

    I remember this was one of the first ted talk I watched. awesome

  • @emmanueltrejo3531
    @emmanueltrejo3531 5 років тому +3

    very interesting analysis, salute from Mexico

  • @TheGameFreak013
    @TheGameFreak013 6 років тому +171

    so he is basically saying that the IQ tests dont actually tell you how smart your brain is but how your culture and/or socio-economic environment has taught you to think?

    • @wb4882
      @wb4882 5 років тому +26

      bingo.

    • @SexycuteStudios
      @SexycuteStudios 5 років тому +27

      It's a measure of someone's ability to learn.

    • @nihilistcentraluk442
      @nihilistcentraluk442 5 років тому +18

      @@SexycuteStudios but your ability to do so is not independent of your social and cultural environment.

    • @faoladh5177
      @faoladh5177 5 років тому +52

      Nope, he is saying that the squishy hardware in your skull hasn't evolved since the last generation, but the software has.

    • @kooroshrostami27
      @kooroshrostami27 5 років тому +8

      consequently that would actually mean that they aren't IQ tests at all, not if IQ is a stable constant for intelligence that doesn't change due to education and knowledge.

  • @lenabruening5942
    @lenabruening5942 4 роки тому +4

    This guy is so cool. Also, anyone else tired of old people saying that we are less intelligent than them for whatever random reason? Our minds get so much more exercise in this generation because we use hypotheticals and we think about the improbable.

  • @fahimrezwankhair7344
    @fahimrezwankhair7344 2 роки тому +1

    Enlightening!

  • @TheSateef
    @TheSateef 8 років тому +381

    interesting that this was made in 2013 but the last part where he talked about people's lack of knowledge about world history and its consequences politically, could not be more relevant, now the American's are thinking of electing someone who thinks he 'has a good brain and knows the best words' and loves the poorly educated.

    • @EvansRowan123
      @EvansRowan123 7 років тому +7

      Alright, so, historical context: historically, when someone who's made multiple stupid-sounding statements is elected to office, exactly how big a disaster is it for the country where they take power?

    • @wakeupscreaming9883
      @wakeupscreaming9883 7 років тому +22

      Hillary? I know, right?

    • @quinnoutram5618
      @quinnoutram5618 7 років тому +35

      I 100% Agree, I saw a video on Facebook recently which highlighted peoples lack of historical knowledge where the presenter went around interviewing trump supporters. In this interview the presenter quoted several famous quotes from hitler and said they were from trump and asked the supporters if they agreed with what "trump" had said and why. Every supporter stood up and said yes this is a fantastic quote and began to defend it. After they defended the quote the presenter told the supporters that the quotes were actually from Hitler during his reign of Germany. All of the supporters had just directly agreed with hitlers ideology just because trumps name was attached to it with no knowledge of the significance of these quotes or how similar trumps and hitlers views are in several area's. Some of the trump supporters even knew thus and proceed to defend hitlers quotes once told they were from hitler.
      Its a scary place when people can't recognise the patterns of a repeat in history.

    • @MrSkaterCat
      @MrSkaterCat 7 років тому +21

      i hate to break it to ya but theres a video showing that those were actors much like the pranks you see online.

    • @ausraider
      @ausraider 7 років тому +4

      +Keyton Bush hitler was not an atheist nor was he a vegetarian. Do research please.

  • @James_Is_Free
    @James_Is_Free 9 років тому +48

    Answer? The introduction of the Internet. My generation is being exposed to more information, and at a faster rate. We don't even have to leave our seats in order to get it.

    • @jamescrud
      @jamescrud 9 років тому +7

      I'm not sure a person's IQ has a lot to do with the amount of information they are exposed to. I could be wrong though.

    • @PapiDaddy
      @PapiDaddy 9 років тому +1

      Absolutely, and the grand collection and distribution of the information learned over the past few hundred years... I guess Kurzweil is right... the #singularity is coming.

    • @thefourofapocalypse7955
      @thefourofapocalypse7955 9 років тому +3

      James Crud it does. First, it has to do with the way you test IQ. A better educated man scores higher on math test than a non educated man. Secondly, stimulus widens your ability to think.

    • @Lobos222
      @Lobos222 9 років тому +8

      James Bondage
      *I dont agree.*
      The information age has created more bubbles than a flourish of questioning kids. Take UA-cam for example. You watch a Kittens video and UA-cam will ask. Do you want to see another million kitten videos? Thats not diversity and *many* people on UA-cam, as viewers, live inside their very own little bubble of selected content they like or agree with. Everything outside of that bubble could just as well be a million km away...
      *In my view the information age seems/risks polarizing people rather than widen their horizon and that is a problem.*

    • @towaritch
      @towaritch 9 років тому

      James Bondage and you wouldnt stand one day the rythm of work our grandparents had!

  • @RH-jl8qr
    @RH-jl8qr 5 років тому

    Ty!

  • @tresajessygeorge210
    @tresajessygeorge210 3 роки тому +1

    THANK YOU SIR...!!!

  • @johna7450
    @johna7450 5 років тому +7

    Reward systems have changed. With new motivations, come new focuses of personal attention.

  • @Ophiuchus97
    @Ophiuchus97 3 роки тому +3

    Rest In ☮️☮️☮️

  • @SuperJpzee
    @SuperJpzee 5 років тому

    Awesome watch.

  • @spiritzweispirit1st638
    @spiritzweispirit1st638 5 років тому +43

    James Flynn For US President 2020!🇺🇸👍

    • @burnytech
      @burnytech 3 роки тому

      ;(

    • @2255223388
      @2255223388 2 роки тому +1

      He moved to New Zealand in 1963, and taugh at my university there until he died in 2020.

  • @sigurdfyllingkarstad2694
    @sigurdfyllingkarstad2694 7 років тому +44

    What a speaker!
    I've had many problems speaking to the previous generations because they didn't take the hypothetical seriously. It's so freaking annoying!

    • @talknight2
      @talknight2 6 років тому +8

      Tell me about it.
      Grandma: "You need a degree".
      Me: "I already have a good job and a lifestyle I enjoy without getting a degree."
      Grandma: "But you need a degree."
      Apparently you're not a REAL person until you have a university degree.

    • @ignacioramirezbautista2056
      @ignacioramirezbautista2056 5 років тому

      IKR...happens all the time

    • @goombapizza6335
      @goombapizza6335 5 років тому

      Hear hear. With people who can't abstract, it's best just to avoid arguments with them. It's like talking to a brick wall. Would you try to teach a chimp calculus? Save yourself the frustration.

    • @omegapointil5741
      @omegapointil5741 5 років тому

      Careful, speculating is how religion defends itself, often resorting to agnosticism to exploit the mysteries.

  • @johnpclark9700
    @johnpclark9700 5 років тому +42

    A first class lecture delivered by a person who has trained to be very articulate. Clear information as he sees it.

    • @46wireboy
      @46wireboy 5 років тому +1

      As he spins it.

  • @N0b1s
    @N0b1s 5 років тому

    This is unbelievably fascinating.

  • @giobronskij8249
    @giobronskij8249 3 роки тому +6

    Wonderful talk.
    Rest in peace James Flynn, he passed away five days ago.

    • @DINO_X65
      @DINO_X65 2 роки тому

      he was such an eloquent speaker, his voice was very smooth, but of course he died, like most other genuinely good people

    • @giobronskij8249
      @giobronskij8249 2 роки тому +1

      @@DINO_X65 I mean, the man was 86.

    • @proudatheist2042
      @proudatheist2042 Місяць тому

      ​@@DINO_X65e eryone dies. Goodness does not grant immortality.

  • @badbrad5424
    @badbrad5424 6 років тому +3

    In 1985 to pass kindergarten I had to know my abc’s. My daughter is in kindergarten right now, she can read on a 6 th grade level. It blows my mind to see the difference between then and now.

    • @PaigeKayeBroker
      @PaigeKayeBroker 5 років тому

      as long as the deep comprehension is there..these days sound/symbol correspondence passes for thinking and testing well way too early

  • @MattRoszak
    @MattRoszak 6 років тому +12

    I've only heard about the Flynn Effect from Steven Pinker, this is my first time seeing him talk about it personally. He's a good speaker!

  • @SeanJonesYT
    @SeanJonesYT 4 роки тому +10

    More people need to be as intelligent and open minded as this man

  • @BULLAKI
    @BULLAKI 4 роки тому

    Great guy. I interviewed Flynn a few days ago. What happened with his latest book was really unfortunate!

  • @genewarrior354
    @genewarrior354 3 роки тому +3

    RIP, James Flynn.

  • @jamesashton9546
    @jamesashton9546 4 роки тому +6

    12:47 I suddenly love this guy

  • @TheLalindra
    @TheLalindra 4 роки тому

    Good talk!

  • @harshporwal
    @harshporwal 4 роки тому +1

    Some great stuff here

  • @koopsjunta
    @koopsjunta 5 років тому +4

    Thank you Dr Flynn. A brilliant TED talk.

  • @dothedeed
    @dothedeed 10 років тому +15

    Definitely one of the best TED talks I've watched.

    • @edmis90
      @edmis90 10 років тому

      What was so good in it?
      It was all irrelevant - most of that speach doesn't change anything and it's not even usefull. It's interesting information - for sure - but if you wouldn't have heard this speach nothing would have changed for you.. at all.... except 18minutes of your life.
      There is one exception though. The speach about the ignorance about history and his given examples. That was good. But it was like 1 minutes of all the 18minutes speach. With the remaining 17 minutes - I would gladly trade those for something else.
      Except that it was interesting - in what way else it was good or "best"?

    • @randomguy1232466
      @randomguy1232466 10 років тому

      edmis90 Why does it have to be useful to be good?

    • @cristixyz
      @cristixyz 10 років тому +4

      edmis90 **throws an opinion the other way** Go get it, boy!

  • @okaformichael383
    @okaformichael383 10 місяців тому

    wow... a really great ted talk

  • @nfactorial4074
    @nfactorial4074 4 роки тому

    my fave ted talk ever. so interesting