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Peaceful Dave's avatar

I am well aware that the idea that IQ measures all is not an explicitly expressed idea, but it seems implicit in the emotion around an association of race and intelligence.

There is, as you note, a difference in being able to do basic math in your head and understanding higher math. At peer reviews of new electronic circuitry design, I worked with an engineer who liked to work thru circuits looking at component values and mentally (and announce results) calculate gains, filter roll-offs, etc. While useful for discussion, it always seemed a bit like showing off. A room full of people with at least a knowledge of calculus, linear algebra, etc. but rapid mental math calculations were not the norm. The design calculations were performed with Spice, and spreadsheet formulas where mental math was not relied upon. A different skill, as you note.

As for big categories, tiny groups tend toward expanding their size to gain relevance while at the same time clinging to a degree of exclusiveness. My wife shrinks Asian to Oriental (eyes: epicanthal folds) or even Thai, Chinese, etc. depending on the underlying reason for even mentioning a distinction.

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