(Also here’s a paper talking about the ability to be creative having a threshold effect around 120 iq with openness mattering more after that, there’s a bunch more stuff like this if you search for it.)
To speculate, it might be the case that effects like this one are at least to some extent due to the modern society not being well-adapted to empowering very-high-g[1] people, and instead putting more emphasis on “no one being left behind”[2]. Like, maybe you actually need a proper supportive environment (that is relatively scarce in the modern world) to reap the gains from very high g, in most cases.
(Not confident about the size of the effect (though I’m sure it’s at least somewhat true) or about the relevance for the study you’re citing, especially after thinking it through a bit after writing this, but I’m leaving it for the sake of expanding the hypothesis space.)
But, if it’s not that, then the threshold thing is interesting and weird.
I would hypothesise that it is more about the underlying ability to use the engine that is intelligence. If we do the classic eliezer definition (i think it is in the sequences at least) of the ability to hit a target then that is only half of the problem because you have to choose a problem space as well.
Part of intelligence is probably choosing a good problem space but I think the information sampling and the general knowledge level of the people and institutions and general information sources around you is quite important to that sampling process. Hence if you’re better at integrating diverse sources of information then you’re likely better at making progress.
Finally I think there’s something about some weird sort of scientific version of frame control where a lot of science is about asking the right question and getting exposure to more ways of asking questions lead to better ways of asking questions.
So to use your intelligence you need to wield it well and wielding it well partly involves working on the right questions. But if you’re not smart enough to solve the questions in the first place it doesn’t really matter if you ask the right question.
To speculate, it might be the case that effects like this one are at least to some extent due to the modern society not being well-adapted to empowering very-high-g[1] people, and instead putting more emphasis on “no one being left behind”[2]. Like, maybe you actually need a proper supportive environment (that is relatively scarce in the modern world) to reap the gains from very high g, in most cases.
(Not confident about the size of the effect (though I’m sure it’s at least somewhat true) or about the relevance for the study you’re citing, especially after thinking it through a bit after writing this, but I’m leaving it for the sake of expanding the hypothesis space.)
But, if it’s not that, then the threshold thing is interesting and weird.
or more generally high-intelligence
putting aside whether it works for the ones it’s supposed to serve or not
I would hypothesise that it is more about the underlying ability to use the engine that is intelligence. If we do the classic eliezer definition (i think it is in the sequences at least) of the ability to hit a target then that is only half of the problem because you have to choose a problem space as well.
Part of intelligence is probably choosing a good problem space but I think the information sampling and the general knowledge level of the people and institutions and general information sources around you is quite important to that sampling process. Hence if you’re better at integrating diverse sources of information then you’re likely better at making progress.
Finally I think there’s something about some weird sort of scientific version of frame control where a lot of science is about asking the right question and getting exposure to more ways of asking questions lead to better ways of asking questions.
So to use your intelligence you need to wield it well and wielding it well partly involves working on the right questions. But if you’re not smart enough to solve the questions in the first place it doesn’t really matter if you ask the right question.