Topic: Can We Derive Hope From Progress And People Becoming Smarter Over Time (Read 357 times)

people are definitely getting smarter with the passage of time - the crypto world has changed the life style and the mindset of the people too.
Even the kids know that they are going to invest money in crypto when they will grow up!

True, today's people want everything to make sense so that it can be accepted within themselves, this results in the person explaining it must be able to answer all forms of doubt that arise as a question from the recipient of the information by diagnosing what, who, where, when, which, why, and how. human interaction (with himself, the environment, and problems) and information will increase intelligence.
Human intelligence is divided into intellectual intelligence, emotional intelligence, and spiritual intelligence which have their own classification so that humans become the most perfect creatures on earth because they can improve it better from time to time.


I completely agree with Darwin's theory of human evolution, only in the context of human evolution (thinking, remembering, behaving, and feeling), and in the evolution of body shape. But not for "man came from ape" this is totally against my logic because human form can be explained by different natural conditions and interbreeding between two different regions to create new forms of combining different genes in human population.
I don't think any human would instinctively accept that they came from an ape species.

there are always smart people, including scientists who discover and solve problems.

people are getting smarter in this growing era is because, keeping up with the progress of the world. nowadays many people think with their brains in order to develop the world to be more sophisticated and invincible.

indeed smart people can help us to solve problems that are very complicated in our opinion. but remember we must always be aware of the growth of this world. don't let us be swallowed up by the times just because this era is easy and sophisticated. always be alert and take care of yourself.

don't let us be swallowed up by mere ego and lust.

I believe you will say that it changes from lower to higher but I think this isn't true for some people especially to the kids because they can't focus anymore on their studies but they will now get distracted playing mobile games. It's not wrong to play games of course if we are bored and have nothing important to do. Hope on the other hand can be derived on different things.

There's this saying that "as long as we are breathing there will always be a hope". There's also "tomorrow is another day" or "there's still tomorrow". Both signifies that there are still hope. Having a progress could mean that the person's ability is improving or he is getting smarter over time. That can also be a source of hope.

Very interesting sir, It is clear from our current technological advances that our future can be brighter if we stay focused. However, the success of AI will depend on the amount of data available to process and predict.

In my opinion, it is important to remember that even A.I. still just a tool or simulation, not organic intelligence. People need to be careful that as we deepen the connection between computers and our minds, we don't allow ourselves to become so in love with our technology that we become more machines than humans.

Today's human IQ level seems to be much higher. but I think otherwise. modernization has made people lazy to think and move. because convenience is too indulgent for their brains and bodies. The evidence today does not appear a basic discovery. even today's professors only imitate and collect from the references of the original (foundation) previous inventors. and rework the invention.

but the question of increasing intelligence I think it is more influenced by continuous interaction. interactions that are experiential and not theoretical. because knowledge in theory will only burden the mind. different from knowledge from experience will shape the brain to adapt to situations and conditions. because from experience the knowledge gained can be felt directly. This is also related to the subconscious of every human being.
Many great inventors appeared in the era long before there was such a thing as modernization. even in times of crisis. because sometimes our brain needs a strong urge to adapt and develop. The compulsion of situations and conditions sometimes makes the brain think outside the box. this is the brain that becomes intelligent that adapts. every time there is an adaptation then it means there is a new brain network that grows and branches.

more concerned is the human EQ is now becoming more blunt. maybe a higher IQ. but EQ is not.

We can be hopeful of such but the way it seems is if we are de-evolving.  Sure I won't be around to see what happens over the eons but if what is going on now is any indicator of people becoming smarter over time, then it appears we are fucked.

Some sources I've read claim modern man developed much of our current cognitive gains over a relatively short span of only 300,000 years.


The branch of evolution that led to modern man is less than 1 million years old, as far as I know.

Larger brain sizes is certainly something that will have an impact in all of this over time, but I have hope for humans being smarter over time in the largest part due and thanks to, the internet.  I have hope for the world simply thanks to the internet connecting us as well as giving us the greatest way to learn from a limitless resource.  I always say I have a lot of hope with this current young generation. Older generations alive today didn't grow up with the internet, and they lack a lot of basic common knowledge (take for example when the US congress held meeting with tech giants like Google and Facebook, and the outdated embarrassing things they asked those respective CEO's). 

Now that young generations have so much access to information/history/avenues of communication to the rest of the world, I think over time that will bring us all a lot closer together and sharpen our minds like never before, in a very sizable way that will create change.  Hopefully anyhow ..unless these crazy rulers of ours ruin it all for us before we get the chance for change.

It took thousands of years for the homo sapiens sapiens to develop a bigger brain. Evolution takes a long time.
I actually think that internet makes us dumber, not smarter. The easier access to information makes our brains lazy. We don't properly analyze the tons of the information that we get online, which makes everything even worse.
The amount of online scams doesn't develop our critical thinking. If less people were falling into online scams, the scammers would simply find new ways to scam.
Living an unhealthy life makes us dumber, because the digestive system is really important for optimal cognitive function.
Sitting in front of a computer for hours and using a smartphone 24/7 definitely doesn't seem healthy.

Eh.  Those "brain gains" you mentioned happen over an extremely long period of time, and nature gives us no guarantees that the trend will continue, right?

I don't believe people are or ever will become smarter in the long run.  Science will always give the world more knowledge as long as there are scientists, but if we're talking about intelligence....that won't happen unless it comes about as a result of long-term evolution.  And even then, it would have to be the frontal cortex that enlarges for that to happen.  If other parts of the brain become more functional/efficient, people might become more emotional, have greater dexterity, or have other gains related to brain function.

But that's all speculation.  I think technology is making a lot of folks less interested in learning and more focused on themselves and their image.

Hope is indeed seen in the fact that technologies are developing quite fast. We've seen how human lives are becoming longer because of technological developments. We've seen how, despite the ballooning population, food is more or less readily available thanks, again, to technological progress. Explorations and, therefore, discoveries in so many areas of life and even the universe are a world faster because of technologies. There must be a lot hope in all of this.

Obstacles abound, however. But it would be another story.

I don't think people became skeptic just because they were raised in a hostile commercial or ad environment. They might be immune toward of them, but they likely just shift away their belief toward somewhere else, we have known that people believe a single person or personal entity more rather than a brand, within the social media world speaking. The so-called influencer does really empower how the masses think and what kind of things get resonated.

Don't get me wrong, the idea of people constantly get a bullshit by any commercial or ads do somewhat likely benefit the people too, as what have you said. Nevertheless, generally speaking, IMO, the good does not outweigh the bad. The problem I tried to convey is fixated on how social media is widely bad for most people.

But the thing is, the younger generation aren't keen in making themselves more intelligent and capable of thinking critically. They are so caught up in social media that they no longer think of anything other than their social image and getting viral. Also, the dietary habits of today's generation doesn't also help. If you want to enrich your brain, you also need to eat rich and healthy, but with food delivery apps and fastfood takeaways, I doubt they can achieve that.

Not a lot of youngsters are also engaged in reading and making their mind work. Technology has become so advanced that it also breed a generation of lazy people that doesn't want to think, just Google. While there are still some percentage that wants to get into STEM programs, or those who just wants to finish their degree and pursue a relevant job in line with what they studied, it's still worrying that they are overwhelmed by the number of people who just wants to make it big on the internet and do nothing. I personally don't think Man is becoming more intelligent over time. We might be developing larger brain sizes and all that, but the connections in the brain which are more important in memory retention and critical thinking skills might not be doing well.

If you study the concept of evolution and understand how scientists proposed that it has been working over the years you discovere that some features were prompted as a result of necessity. Take for instance the giraffe which scientist will tell you that originally did not have the long necks but developed it because of the habit of them eating leaves from the high branches of trees. do you do the necessity of processing larger volumes of raw data just as OP has highlighted, it is very possible that people will develop larger brains and become smarter over time.

I think the problem isn't with the intellectual capabilities as much as it is with emotional intelligence and basic morality. People indeed need to process more information on daily basis now than they needed in the past. That doesn't mean people are more critical thinkers than they used to be, though, but I hope they largely are, especially because the world has never been such an educated place as it is right now. That being said, I too used to believe in human progress up until very recently. It was not because the events that happened were particularly out of place but rather because when they happened elsewhere, I didn't pay enough attention and didn't fully realize it. What I'm talking about if the Russo-Ukrainian war. If a country can still invade another to grab territories, if they can torture PoWs and civilians, almost completely destroy towns and cities, and YET the government and the troops of this country can maintain strong support within their country despite plenty of available evidence... If the rest of the world can weigh gas prices and utility bills over what now several countries recognize as genocide... I am not sure humanity is making progress and that there's hope in that. If after thousands of years of development and tons of terrible devastating wars and other things like the Holocaust people didn't finally figure out that terrible things must be prevented and that many things are completely unacceptable, have we really make ANY reasonable progress to be proud of? Technologically, maybe, but without moral progress, the technological progress poses a threat to become a weapon of greater destruction.

Improving basic health, nutrition and fitness is also a good method to reduce fatigue and brain fog. And better the thought process.




There are clips of youtube where people on the street are polled and unable to find australia on a map.

When we think of the past. We think only of the greats. Einstein, Newton, Leonardo Da Vinci. We estimate the intelligence of everyone who lived in those eras by their best, rather than their worst case scenario.

It is possible that the uneducated and uninformed of today. Are heads and shoulders smarter and more knowledgeable in contrast to their peers of past eras.

In the same way that women of today are probably hotter and healthier than women of centuries past. Simply due to improved health, sanitation and hygiene. Those health and cosmetic benefits might trickle down to higher intelligence and capability to think critically and solve problems as well.




Consumers being bombarded by commercials and ads triggered an arms race of suggestive content and defensive skepticism.

We're constantly forced into a position where our self interests align with suspension of blind belief in suggestive proposals and claims.

Con artists often target the elderly. A generation who didn't grow up being bombarded by commercials and ads. Who generally believe everything as a result.

In that age gap we might see people becoming smarter and more skeptical as a result of having been born and raised in an environment where they couldn't believe every commercial and ad to maintain their own health and wellness.




A segment of the brain is devoted towards motor cortex -- control of muscles. It is possible the motor cortex portion of the brain is shrinking as people become less physically active and athletic in their daily lives. But this does not mean that people are becoming less intelligent imo.

The idea that people use only 15% to 25% of their brains is a quote out of context. Originally a researcher was famous for saying most people will only develop 15% to 25% of the full potential their brain is capable of. Somehow it was misquoted as people using only 15% to 25% of their brain, with the rest being unused.

I think most believe they're better off not knowing things and not learning or improving themselves. That's where the greatest resistance to progress comes from.




I would be interested to know how often people of past eras read.

If the average person who lived 200 years ago, read 50 words per day.

And the average person today reads 5,000 words per day on social media.

Could it be considered an upgrade?

The common claim is our pace of life having increased dramatically. If that claim holds true, it correlates with greater exposure to data and information. The content could be less relevant and fact based due to environmental differences. There are probably forces working for and against human intelligence in the current era. Just as in every era.

If nothing else, can we say that ancient people not having access to basic books and reading materials. With only an oral story telling tradition to rely upon for content. Would definitely be exposed to far less data in contrast to the modern world where we have developing stories, news and information being constantly directed at us from a massive number of sources.

Algorithms and tests came out to calculate processing with chess afaik. They still can't calculate what every move will do but they can use minimax and other algorithms to determine what the best immediate move will be.

We did still need the smaller computing chips for that but also better algorithms. There were thoughts a few years ago that they couldn't make a computer better at playing go (a strategy game) than normal players but one managed to compete using a neural network to do it.


This is a lot more accurate since parallel processing a cheap peripherals came about. A lot of phones are able to compete with regular computers now too because of how compact technology has become.



This will certainly be the case with the amount of knowledge sharing too that's available and free verifiable informstion that's given. As long as information can be verified (/proven) and is interesting/useful to the prover in some way then it'll be beneficial and memorable for them as long as they know how to retain it and remember what was fact and what wasn't.

Sadly, while most generic scams follow the same trends, some will always be outliers and innovative so there might be a long time before everyone understands and adapts to them (take the transition with crypto from ponzi schemes that relied on trust to signing airdrop tokens with malicious contracts to electrum's phishing attack).


Environmental limits are less profound now than they have been historically (who knows for how long that'll last though).

Information accessibility has become easier generation to generation though. Schools aren't run by factories or transitioning from that and libraries and other publicly available spaces seem.more widespread than they were (as well as transportation making it easier to get around) - diesel/steam ships instead of rowing/sailing ones (and fewer people being limited to however far they or their horse could walk - if they had any free time they didn't want to spend with family).


I think people have always been infantile in their ways they've just found ways to hide it in the past/haven't been explicit with it or to pay people to hide it for them (in case of people considered nobles - royalty seems known for having jesters historically).

This might depend on which demographics you think have become more infantile though too.

People are bound by their IQ, and IQ is purely genetic. Limiting environmental factors can reduce IQ (like malnutrition in poor countries) but your upper bound is still limited.

The rapid rise in information is mainly due to the internet, not an inherent upward trajectory in human intelligence. Over time, it's been recorded that human IQ's are increasing, but this is a generational observation and not attributable to what computational physics has given us.

If you're referring to fluid intelligence, then yes, the internet, radio, whatever, has absolutely made it easier to increase fluid intelligence.

I think that the level of access to education is growing on the planet, and the level of critical thinking, on the contrary, is falling. People in general are becoming more infantile, more suggestible. I am not too hopeful for positive quantitative progress in this regard, but I am sure that evolution has many interesting qualitative leaps up its sleeve for humanity. And perhaps our today's species disadvantages will tomorrow become our evolutionary advantages.