Abstract
Social scientists suggest that intelligence is sensitive to small variations in typical human environments. But humans could never have evolved such big brains and high intelligence were their development hostage to species-typical adversities, including famine, parasites, harsh living conditions, and con-specific violence. Social scientists also tend to depict the benefits of evolutionarily normative behavior (e.g., breast feeding) as “improving” intelligence. But evolutionarily novel behaviors (e.g., not breastfeeding, high-carb-high-fat diets) and exposures (man-made toxins such as alcohol, lead, radiation) often permanently lower intelligence by damaging the brain. Humans have no evolved resilience against innovations in self-harm. Intelligence is a maximal performance, so raising intelligence would likely require biological enhancement. Few people work to their maximum, and many engage in behaviors that impair their abilities temporarily or permanently (drugs, alcohol, etc.). Preserving and more fully exploiting existing human capabilities therefore seems a more promising, if less glamorous, investment in human potential.
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