Intellectual Diversity > Cultural, Ethnic & Linguistic Diversity

by LoveUniHateExams 6 Replies latest social current

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  LoveUniHateExams

  Yeah, this thread's title is self-explanatory and self-evident: intellectual diversity is greater than all other types of diversity combined.

  When I was a uni student I noticed posters that were put up all over my uni. They said embrace diversity, with the context clearly being cultural and racial.

  Obviously there's nothing wrong with people coming from different backgrounds and I said this to my colleagues.

  But what's better than all that is intellectual diversity. I said to my colleagues that, as uni students, we should discuss and evaluate diversity rather than blindly embrace it.

  I wish I'd have added that intellectual diversity trumps all other kinds.
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  Phizzy

  I don't really recognize the concept of "Race" , I think it is ill-defined and probably nonsense. Of course people come from different backgrounds, where they were born, what culture they were born in to etc etc.

  Intellectual diversity is an interesting subject, and I have a feeling that people's intellectual abilities and intellectual progress are mainly affected by their environment.

  Give us more of your thoughts please.
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  LoveUniHateExams

  I have a feeling that people's intellectual abilities and intellectual progress are mainly affected by their environment - well, I feel that environment is a big factor in intellectual progress but not in intellectual ability.

  Take Prince Charles. He was born into the UK's richest, most powerful family. Money was and is no object. He had the best schooling. If he got good A-level results, the top universities would've been falling over themselves to take him. But he isn't an academic - he scraped by with 3 O-levels. Despite a favourable environment he didn't have the intellectual ability.

  On the flip side, consider the comedian Frank Skinner, real name Christopher Collins,

  He was born into a poor working class family. Apparently, his parents didn't value education and expected their son to work in a factory for the rest of his life. He tried it but got fed up after a few weeks. So he went to college and took A-levels and some O-level resits. After earning a BA in English at Birmingham poly, he went to Warwick uni to do a master's (MA) in English Literature.
  
  
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  cofty

  I have a feeling that people's intellectual abilities and intellectual progress are mainly affected by their environment - Phizzy

  The evidence from twin studies show that our intellectual capacity is predominately nature rather than nurture.

  Of course it almost goes without saying that a genetically gifted child needs the opportunity to realise their potential.

  For details see 'The Blank Slate' by Pinker and 'Nature Via Nurture' by Matt Ridley.

  LUHE - I agree. I assume you didn't so much mean diversity in intellectual ability but in opinions and perspectives? Jonathan Haidt has written about this. He started a project called the Heterodox Academy to encourage diversity among university academics.
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  waton

  Great comments, in the wt world, intellectual diversity, divergence toward the higher spectrum is stifled, The brain for wt is only an instrument to be programmed to carry out wt functions.

  The last adjustment to the former "ministry school" shut down the last vestiges of male speaker training for example.

  by including the "special needs", (intellectually divers) students in the mainstream classroom, the development of the top performers is also stifled.
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  LoveUniHateExams

  I assume you didn't so much mean diversity in intellectual ability but in opinions and perspectives? - yes, that's right.

  Jonathan Haidt has written about this. He started a project called the Heterodox Academy to encourage diversity among university academics - thanks Cofty, I'll read this when I have time.
  
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  jp1692

  Diversity of all types -- intellectual, cultural and viewpoint -- is an important part of any collaborative endeavor.

  The opposite is to work in an echo chamber. In that event, you might as well be alone. It would be more efficient if nothing else.

  I'm a big fan of both Steven Pinker and Jonathan Haidt's work in this area. Thanks Cofty for mentioning them.