re: #426 Talking Point Detective

This is all good and such, but we aren’t talking about hereditarians and their misconceptions, but about *your* misunderstanding of IQ:

What’s interesting about that last excerpt is that if you believe that IQ tests are actually valid (i.e., that they measure a singular attribute called “intelligence” that is genetically inherited) it should theoretically be impossible for blacks to close the gap in IQ testing. Not only does the evidence of a closing gap expose racist theories, it also exposes the weakness of IQ testing.

IQ tests do not purport to measure “a singular attribute called “intelligence” that is genetically inherited”. That’s an extreme hereditarian interpretation of what IQ tests measure. I.e. you take an extreme interpretation of IQ tests and use it to cast doubt on IQ testing as such. Which shows that you don’t understand the first thing about IQ.

Before debating something you would better actually read up on it. You can start with Nisbett, who alone shows that “what IQ tests is how well people do on IQ tests” is nonsense, since they predict real-life outcomes. He also acknowledges the substantial role of genes in IQ, all the while being a staunch environmentalist (there is no contradiction). So: read.