Are Europeans/Americans generally more intelligent and less emotional than Asians/Africans? Pl see details....

Question

The reason why I ask this is my own perception that generally the Asians and Africans are poor but seem to be happier than the Europeans and the Americans. Of course exceptions can be found in plenty but if a majority average is taken, that is what it seems to be.

In my view, logical intelligence can lead to affluence but it is emotional intelligence which can lead to happiness.

My intention is to see to what extent you people agree with my thinking, which is really about the correlation of happiness with emotional intelligence rather than anything about either racial or national trends!! That is why this question is posted here in Philosophy rather than in any social/cultural category!!

Answer 1

I'll simply type this: when my father had to bail out over southern China in WW2, locals helped him and his crew reach safety.

While in the village, my father was astounded that abandoned autos had been converted by locals to run on charcoal.

So, who's smarter?

Answer 2

There is some truth there, but not the whole truth.

It is of course true on an average that most of the European or American States are richer than a majority of the Asian and African States. But I am not so sure whether this is due to difference in level of intelligence.... other factors such as values and focus make a big difference, for example in many of the Asian nations, earning money is not given the top priority by many of the people. It seems to me that it is this priorities in life that appears to make a difference even in the level of general happiness or contentment. Many Western people are thus found searching in the East for enhanced overall satisfaction and peace of mind, and even settling down there obviously to ensure a happier and more peaceful life than what they have seen in the West.

In summary, therefore, I would argue that it is neither general intelligence nor emotional intelligence that may be the prime reason respectively for the levels of affluence or overall happiness. It may actually simply boil down to priorities and values that one sets for the life and the corresponding lifestyles that result in the society based on the prevalent approach to life by the majority of the people.

Answer 3

There's no general truth to this statement.

-John