Do you think that modern society people are less intelligent than the people born in the past?

Question

- Comparing people now to the people in the Victorian era perhaps? Where they would social by talking for hours as a means of entertainment?

- Could it be possible that we are infected with a disease (something similar to mad cow) but we didn't know about it ourselves, which causes us to lose our basic thinking instincts like common sense, spelling and the lack of basic knowledge?

- Too much technology, TVs, Computers, which doesn't leave much social time?

- Is it because our society today leaves us with a pub, club or a disco for our only social time since everyone is far too busy working now?

What's your view? And is there a cause?

Answer 1

Intelligent or social?

People today are just as intelligent, the difference being that we do have technology that was not available to those in the Victorian age. However, people of today would find it tough to survive in the past because of how they live now.

Answer 2

Back in the pioneer days people had to think and were more independant , not like today where we take alot for granted and depend on our bank and credit cards.

Answer 3

I think we are smarter than the people of the past in the sense of knowing more about science, medicine, and mathematics.  Basically, things that take time to develop.

But I can see where you're going with this thought.  I think part of it may be our arrogance and self-righteousness as a whole.  We (the majority of us) have yet to find out what really matters in life.

We've also relaxed ourselves.  We allow more mistakes and more room for error where at one point in time there was no room.

But maybe it's just because there's more people now than the past could have ever imagined.  And we're connected now more than even we know to the rest of the world.

I believe we are sociall less intelligent.  Understanding other people and making an effort to learn about others is this era's downfall.

Answer 4

[1:1]

no.  but i do think that many are 'hypnotized' by lies and illusion. they believe the propaganda that is fed to them everyday.  Gloria to God hoo never lies.  hosanna to Allah!

- Ephesians 5:14

- Psalm 23

In God We Trust

- [6:49]

============== Happy 4†h

Answer 5

No....people were intelligent then.....and just as intelligent now........the difference is that  priorities  have changed.

Back then life was much more simple........now we live a very busy life full of "wants" not necessarily "needs", and we have to work harder to pay for those "wants."

Talking to my grandchildren..........having a TV that takes up half of a room is a "need."  An expensive one.

We don't know where or how to find  balance in  life.

  

It is sad.......techonology has definetaly had a negative effect on family life......it's not because it's bad.........but, we just don't know when to stop.  It seems as is we just cannot get enough of it.....it's an addiction.....like other addictions.....we cannot get away from.   As adults, we have no discipline.

Answer 6

No, but less creative and much more spoiled and violent but whats  or who is to blame????Each time-frame /GENERATION has its ups/downs...... and  cleverness/stupidity.....breakthroughs/b... but this Era we musnt be stupid and try to hide away from global warming...I quess there are more complexed problems to tackle and more ignorant people ...thats all

Answer 7

Presence of acumen, of acuity principally is a subject on conditions, on provisioning, on opportunity, not on that of contingency and the fitness of time; and of Man -- both old and new are as they were, which is to say that both are basically primitive; though the former is the educated of its native moorings, endowed with the High and natural idea; while the latter, a veritable city doll.

Answer 8

I think our 'thinking processes' are not as 'articulate'. Neither are our general communication skills....especially 'writing'.......because of the things you mentioned. I believe this is, in a large part, because of the early influence of 'mass media and entertainment'......Even the 'writing' is less intelligent and articulate than it was in times past. I notice this when I read letters and writings from past eras and compare them with modern 'writing'. The thinking processes, as I said, are recorded in these old 'documents' and I perceive them as much more articulate as far as 'language usage'. I also think that you are on to something, when you mention 'too much technology'. We don't have to 'work as hard' to communicate thoughts articulately in the modern world. Our communication habits are not as well cultivated as in times past. Our formal educations are inferior, also, to times past. Yes, we learn facts, but not so much do we learn *well*...... "how to think critically" and intellectually. Our expertise is often very compartmentalized and restricted. I gave you a star because I thought your question was a very good one. Thanks for asking. Sola

Answer 9

Had it not been for the people of the past, we would not be where we are today.  It might seem as if we all do nothing but work these days, but people worked their butts off back then too.

Answer 10

The modern American today I feel is a lot less intelligent than they were from 1950-1983, what I consider the best 33 years of this country's history.

    In these decades people had to use their minds. When writing a school paper for example, there was no "spell check." If the wanted the spelling to be right (thus wanting a good grade) they would have to proof read it themselves. Also, through these decades, mathematics was done mostly mentally. People couldn't just type numbers into a machine and have the machine do the work for them. They had to do the mental work and they had to use their mind. There are many examples of this.

    Your third answer (too much technology, TVs, Computers, which doesn't leave much social time) is perfect!

    Thanks for asking. :)

Answer 11

These are random thoughts more than a definitive answer - In reality, we are far smarter than people in the past, but there are not enough means for that increased intelligence to find expression. Genius is a dime a dozen nowadays.  In the past, a great thinker, now and again, could find a benefactor and promote their ideas without starving. Today, we have to work longer hours to keep going, and we do not often have the time to promote our great ideas. There are certainly more distractions that prevent us from achieving our full human potentiality - but there are also  tools that favor us. Maybe we're too hard on ourselves - many geniuses of the past were not recognized as such in their lifetimes.

I'll tell you one thing, though - I am constantly surprised that people who are intelligent enough to use a computer/internet/etc post the dumbest, shortest, thoughtless responses ever. I remember how excited I was about the idea of chat rooms. Imagine my disappointment to learn that they are populated with extreme forms of the shallowness that I see in real life. and Q& A forums like this one - no one EVER searches to find out if someone else has asked the same question.

I don't think people are stupid - I never have, but I am way more pessimistic since I started working in tech support.

Answer 12

We are more book smart, but less intelligent in survival/practical skills. Overall, intelligence is not anything that can be fully accurately measured, and therefore this question has no definite answer. In terms of evolution, we should be getting smarter, but there is no natural selection to weed out the less intelligent anymore because of the "right to life" (which of course is even intact for screaming, diaper-crapping retards who do not do anything productive toward anything and are parasites on our food supply).

Answer 13

People are more intelligent now because we are exposed with so much complexities starting the day we were born. With the so many complex toys of different colors,  shapes, designs and functions that children have now, they develop highly analytical and spacial thinking. When they are introduced to technology, they develop technical thinking. And as they watch TV and navigate the internet, they get more aware of their surroundings increaing their political and geographical knowledge; they get more involved in the community and society, thereby, increasing their social skills like language, establishing relationships, etc.

In the past, majority of the people spend their time doing physical labor. Now, majority of the workforce are in the offices analyzing, computing, etc.  

Also, women before did not receive any formal education. Now, women have shown that they can be as intelligent and competitive as men. Surely fifty percent of the population are more intelligent now than it was during the Victorian Era.

Answer 14

I read a statistic that said the the average person in the US of the 1800's was an avid reader, and enjoyed discussing the books that he/she read. I think in some ways that people today are less literate, because reading books has been downgraded into a very inferior form of entertainment. Instead, we are entertained by very quick mediums: television, Internet, and video-games. We are intelligent in  a different way: and I think it is a dangerous trend.

I would say that, overall, there is less thoughtfulness. And therefore, less thought about the impact of things, and the importance of things. Instead, we process so much information without understanding what it means.

Good question!!! : )

Answer 15

1. No, most people in Victorian era were illiterate and could not read, let alone spell.  

2. IQ is going up, not down.

3. People in the future will be even smarter.

Only rich, famous people are getting stupider, such as Paris Hilton or G.W. Bush.  In the past, intelligence was a sign of the upper-class, because only they could afford education and sit around having intellectual discussions.  Today, the rich are stupid because they can afford to be that way.