Are We Dumb?
With the creation of television and the internet, there has been the long-standing debate about whether or not these advancements are helpful to the human race. Every single advancement in the field of technology is met with controversy and dislike. Many people believe that the technological advancements are more hindering to younger generations than helpful. However, the advancements made for the younger generations are giving them a new grasp on learning and intelligence.
One of the main arguments made by opponents of the technological advancements is lack of knowledge that the younger generation has. “[I]n the 2007 Pew survey on “What Americans Know: 1989-2007,” 56 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds possessed low knowledge levels, while only 22 percent of 50- to 64-year-olds did” (Source 1). The argument itself holds some water. Many people in their early adult years do not retain as much trivia as the adults in the later years of life. But look any closer than face value, and the argument starts to show some holes. …show more content…
Another equally important way to measure intelligence is presented as the IQ test, which measures the pure thinking capacity of the take. Pure thinking capacity is “what cognitive scientists call fluid intelligence, in that it can be applied to problems in any domain…” (Source 2). The results of the IQ test show the ability of a person to solve a problem and apply what they know, rather than asking the testee to remember tidbits of information, such as the names of the nine professional American sports teams that do not end their name with an s. “IQ scores in every country that measures them, including the United States, have been rising since the 1930s” (Source 2). This proves that while the younger generations may not be able to name the seven most venomous snakes in the world, they are still able to work through problems and get a
With the creation of television and the internet, there has been the long-standing debate about whether or not these advancements are helpful to the human race. Every single advancement in the field of technology is met with controversy and dislike. Many people believe that the technological advancements are more hindering to younger generations than helpful. However, the advancements made for the younger generations are giving them a new grasp on learning and intelligence.
One of the main arguments made by opponents of the technological advancements is lack of knowledge that the younger generation has. “[I]n the 2007 Pew survey on “What Americans Know: 1989-2007,” 56 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds possessed low knowledge levels, while only 22 percent of 50- to 64-year-olds did” (Source 1). The argument itself holds some water. Many people in their early adult years do not retain as much trivia as the adults in the later years of life. But look any closer than face value, and the argument starts to show some holes. …show more content…
Another equally important way to measure intelligence is presented as the IQ test, which measures the pure thinking capacity of the take. Pure thinking capacity is “what cognitive scientists call fluid intelligence, in that it can be applied to problems in any domain…” (Source 2). The results of the IQ test show the ability of a person to solve a problem and apply what they know, rather than asking the testee to remember tidbits of information, such as the names of the nine professional American sports teams that do not end their name with an s. “IQ scores in every country that measures them, including the United States, have been rising since the 1930s” (Source 2). This proves that while the younger generations may not be able to name the seven most venomous snakes in the world, they are still able to work through problems and get a