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Bill Flavell on religion (midwest.social)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/atheistmemes@lemmy.world
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[–] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

I wouldn't rule out that we've become smarter since then. Iirc the average IQ did increase over time. We may not have changed genetically, but many explanations think we can foster higher IQs in our modern environment compared to a 100 years ago.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

    You're referring to the Flynn effect. But the Flynn effect is a 20th century (post-WWII) phenomenon that describes an increase in the average intelligence test performance (and similar abilities like memory span). There are a number of explanations that have been proposed for this effect, the most convincing ones being improved nutrition and schooling. Either way, this effect does not apply on an evolutionary scale (or even a larger historical one) and it also represents a fairly narrow, gradual change rather than the broad, drastic change suggested in the OP. Also, in recent years, the Flynn effect appears to have reached a ceiling and is even reversing in some countries.

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  • [–] -2 points 2 years ago

    IQ is a bad measure for intelligence, and is constantly rising year over year.

    IQ is a bullshit measurement made up by eugenicists to prove that white men are the best and does little more than measure learning.

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