12-year-old astrophysics prodigy questions Big Bang
Moderator: Alyrium Denryle
Re: 12-year-old astrophysics prodigy questions Big Bang
The Theory of Multiple Intelligences (linking the Wikipedia article as it does a pretty good job of explaining) is the current theory behind just what you're saying. Someone who's like this kid in math and someone who can assemble a turbine out of scrap are equally smart, just in different ways. I sort of squint at bits of it-proponents of existential intelligence really seem to be defeating the point of putting science in psychology-but the underlying theory is pretty sound.
"I'm sorry, you seem to be under the mistaken impression that your inability to use the brain evolution granted you is any of my fucking concern."
"You. Stupid. Shit." Victor desperately wished he knew enough Japanese to curse properly. "Davions take alot of killing." -Grave Covenant
Founder of the Cult of Weber
"You. Stupid. Shit." Victor desperately wished he knew enough Japanese to curse properly. "Davions take alot of killing." -Grave Covenant
Founder of the Cult of Weber
Re: 12-year-old astrophysics prodigy questions Big Bang
My first thought is that this kid can't be the first person with an I.Q. of 170 to attempt dealing with theoretical astrophysics problems.
My second is that he probably is still young and enthusiastic enough to not quite realize his limitations, or that other people do, in fact, know more than him. Hell, when I was in highschool, I had dreams of destroying Relativity. Of course, by the time I reached my senior year I took a moment to consider just how unlikely that would be when you think about all the brilliant and highly educated persons that had already attempted to destroy Relativity in the past 70 years or so.
In fact, that reminds me of a professor I had who said something similar about himself in college, to the point that finally in one class one of his instructors basically shredded his ego in front of everyone.
I think the main thing here, as noted, is that the kid is so bright for his age, that it is far more noticeable when he does it, than when a random teenager or young adult does it. Although, thinking about it now, when I took DiffEQ at junior college, there was an asian kid in there who was probably about 12-14 himself. Of course, he was really shy and never said anything, and everyone expects asian kids to be walking calculators anyway.
Shifting gears a little though: how the hell did his parents not know he was exceptional? Do they not have any memories at all of their own childhoods or any of their friends? Did they not see any other children or babies throughout their lives? I just have to wonder how two people could have a kid who teaches himself all this stuff by age 2 or so, and they just sit there going, "yeah, that seems about right. Didn't I teach myself high levels of math by age 3? Even though I barely understand algebra now."
BTW, did he graduate high school, or just "leave?" I mean, being good at math doesn't mean he's good at english, history, language, PE, writing essays, etc. I knew a russian kid in highschool who took all his math and physics classes at UC Berkeley since his sophomore year at least, but he still had to take all his other classes at the highschool like everyone else. Barely passed most of them too, because he was terrible at everything not directly related to math, including basic social interactions and hygiene. Even chemistry he found almost impossible. Really, outside of hard math, he came off as a complete moron, as well as incredibly obnoxious.
I think the big advantage Jake here has over the other kids I mentioned is that he seems quite sociable.
My second is that he probably is still young and enthusiastic enough to not quite realize his limitations, or that other people do, in fact, know more than him. Hell, when I was in highschool, I had dreams of destroying Relativity. Of course, by the time I reached my senior year I took a moment to consider just how unlikely that would be when you think about all the brilliant and highly educated persons that had already attempted to destroy Relativity in the past 70 years or so.
In fact, that reminds me of a professor I had who said something similar about himself in college, to the point that finally in one class one of his instructors basically shredded his ego in front of everyone.
I think the main thing here, as noted, is that the kid is so bright for his age, that it is far more noticeable when he does it, than when a random teenager or young adult does it. Although, thinking about it now, when I took DiffEQ at junior college, there was an asian kid in there who was probably about 12-14 himself. Of course, he was really shy and never said anything, and everyone expects asian kids to be walking calculators anyway.
Shifting gears a little though: how the hell did his parents not know he was exceptional? Do they not have any memories at all of their own childhoods or any of their friends? Did they not see any other children or babies throughout their lives? I just have to wonder how two people could have a kid who teaches himself all this stuff by age 2 or so, and they just sit there going, "yeah, that seems about right. Didn't I teach myself high levels of math by age 3? Even though I barely understand algebra now."
BTW, did he graduate high school, or just "leave?" I mean, being good at math doesn't mean he's good at english, history, language, PE, writing essays, etc. I knew a russian kid in highschool who took all his math and physics classes at UC Berkeley since his sophomore year at least, but he still had to take all his other classes at the highschool like everyone else. Barely passed most of them too, because he was terrible at everything not directly related to math, including basic social interactions and hygiene. Even chemistry he found almost impossible. Really, outside of hard math, he came off as a complete moron, as well as incredibly obnoxious.
I think the big advantage Jake here has over the other kids I mentioned is that he seems quite sociable.