Ask News.YC: Were logical people born logical? | Hacker News Reader

Ask News.YC: Were logical people born logical?

9 pointspalish29 comments

Short and sweet. Your thoughts, please.

In short: no.

I have seen tens of examples where people of incredible logical/analytical heritage sink to the bottom of the barrel, as well as those that rise to the top from no discernible "good" set of genes.

There is more, I believe, than being born in making a person understand and function on a logical level. It requires a whole set of correct external stimuli, as well as a certain drive.

For me, I can clearly define two key points in my life: one that got me started in the right logical way, and one that directed me into computers specifically. As for the drive, it's also very much a function of environment, because I have seen my own motivation and desire tide and ebb depending on various external inputs.

In conclusion, I would say that there is potential in a majority of us to achieve amazing things, yet this potential requires specific grooming to blossom.

Yes.

Or at least they have the propensity to become more so than others.

My evidence is very very subjective... based on watching children (ages 2-5) you see some have a natural inclination towards order and logic. They love legos, lining up their action figures/matchbox cars, coloring in the lines and when they color they only use colors that make sense (i.e. they won't color a tree blue).

While other kids love drawing/painting, giving their parents plays/shows, and creating stories that don't make any sense. They enjoy the chaos of turning little red riding hood into a who-done-it with Optimus Prime and Mario helping find gold on mars.

I disagree with the premise: people are not logical.

There are a lot of people with great analytical skills, but even those people consistently act illogically. It comes with the wetware.

Certainly. Rumor has it that Einstein had at least one or two mistresses that he would visit from time to time. Those visits probably did nothing to improve his personal life, or benefit him in any way except emotionally (and even then, only in the short term; his jaunts probably had long-term emotional consequences). Therefore, those actions were probably illogical.

However, setting that aside for one moment... Imagine someone who most people would classify as "developmentally disabled". (I don't like over-general labels, but it is a relatively specific one in this case.) Now, the million-dollar question is: would it ever be possible for that person to solve a problem of the magnitude Einstein has solved?

It seems like the answer is no.

Interesting question.

Short answer: No.

Long answer: Education.

I noticed myself learning logical rigor as I learned to program. My hatred of bugs classically conditioned me to think through things in a way I wasn't accustomed to.

However, as with most yes/no questions, the correct answer is is "sorta".

Please, expand on that.

Once, after a few months of learning to program, my bike started falling out of gear going up hills. I knew nothing about bikes and so I looked at it for a while and then got frustrated. Then I looked at the pedals and thought, what happens when I push these? And if this chain is here, how does the wheel move? And what else can affect the wheel? And how does this change if the chain is on this gear wheel? Then I realized, hey, I'm debugging my bike.

I was just helping someone learn to program yesterday, and I noticed her doing something that I remember doing as well. She was writing code that she didn't understand, without even understanding that she didn't understand it. Then, when it blew up, she was irritated in two ways: once because she had no idea it was coming, and again because she had no idea how to fix it. I rarely write code I don't understand now, but when I do, I'm damn well certain that I don't understand it, and it makes me nervous as hell. One day she's going to be me, because she hates what she sees every time she javac's now.

That was a pretty short long answer.

Consider the following analogy. We all have bodies, but few become athletes. We all have minds, but few become thinkers. I think this is a matter of choice influenced by ones predisposition and experiences. Inevitably we choose to specialize in something and that specialization strengthens us in some ways at the cost of weakening us in other ways. -cheers

anyone can become rational. it takes only the willingness to throw out any notion that is proven false, no matter how much you held that notion dear. with this one parameter you will arrive at successively more accurate approximations of reality.

People were born stupid. Education (and in small part experience) is necessary to the development of the rational faculties.

Of course not!

They were all babbling fools as infants.

Perhaps born with the genes but developed over time with education, etc.

Yes.

That was my conclusion as well. And unfortunately, it is a somewhat depressing conclusion. It means that not everyone is able to rise to the level of Mozart or Newton or Michelangelo (or Carmack, to use a more modern example). Certain problems are simply beyond the capabilities of certain people.

I honestly don't care whether this topic rises to the front page... I'd just like to talk about this with others. Do you have some time to chat here?

Malcom Gladwell has a new book coming out in a couple of weeks called "Outliers".. He delves into all of this, I'm half way through it and I cant put it down. He has so much proof! Proof of all of the contributing factors that go into the exceptional accomplishments of certain extraordinary people. People like Bill Gates and Bill Joy. It's a little mean of me to mention the book as I think it gets released on the 18th, until I saw your post I resisted mentioning it.

The only answer I have for you is probably not what you are looking for- there is a Buddhist expression called "mu". It means you have to un-ask the question before we can proceed, your question is like saying "are you still beating your wife?" Of course, either way one answers is incorrect- if you say "no" it could mean you used to beat your wife, and if yes thats quite bad as well. The correct answer can only be mu. So, in essence, there are too many factors involved for a yes or no . Get the book and then email me if you would like, I'd love to chat about it, its fantastic!

Where did you GET Outliers, perchance, if it's not out yet?

I have an advanced copy. My father sent it to me, pops doesn't care for nonfiction and he knew I'd enjoy it. He used to own a bookstore so he still gets the gallys(spelling?). I'm almost done with it Unalone, email me and I'll put it in the post for you.

Now I'm really jealous. I've been waiting for that book to come out for months.

I didn't see this here, I'll send the book out to whomever emails me first.

Sure, what's your e-mail? Or just e-mail me at shawnpresser@gmail.com.

Got it.

Hmm, I didn't actually get an email from you. Try again?

Also, keep in mind that HN readers won't be able to see the email address that you put in your profile... you have to explicitly put it in your "about" section.

I didn't know that. I'm at TobiasCassell@Gmail- the book is still up for grabs.

SOLD! Threadstarter was first!

I realize this is picking on your example, and not the concept in general, but why doesn't "I never beat my wife." suffice? I agree that a yes/no answer won't cut it.

What's a logical person?

Human beings don't always act rationally or irrationally due to emotions. So calling some as logical is illogical, assuming that you meant someone is completely logical when you say 'born logical'.

Where and how you grow up plays a big role in how logical you are.

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