Thanks for outlining what I largely objected to within this article. I read this as a reductive misapplication of the author’s experience in mathematics and domains of machine learning to broader discussions of intelligence in a way that struck me as the author presupposing a highly culturally dependent interpretation of intelligence. I can understand the motivation for trying to use mathematical and symbolic reasoning abilities as proxies for abstract reasoning, but you’re painting with far too broad a brush stroke if you’re applying that across society given different levels of emphasis on schooling and mathematical literacy. I suppose that part of my core objection is that I believe, based on this article, that the author has a selfish view of human intelligence that focuses on their own competencies and judges those as lesser who don’t have similar expertise.
I’ve got a degree in physics from a top 3 university and I have met individuals more intelligent than me who suffered through various math classes, which I believe was largely due to a lack of experience with the machinery of math or formal reasoning.
I’ve got a degree in physics from a top 3 university and I have met individuals more intelligent than me who suffered through various math classes, which I believe was largely due to a lack of experience with the machinery of math or formal reasoning.