Poll: Do you believe intelligence is fixed?

My pre-theoretic intuition is that it's plastic up to some fixed degree determined primarily by genetics and secondarily by early life experiences.

Given the degree of ignorance and uncertainty involved, though, I think a more interesting discussion centers on the risks involved with what we choose to believe: namely, what's the upside (for individuals, for societies) of assuming "intelligence is fixed" (however interpreted) or that it's not? What's the downside risk of believing the same?

How are these risks and potential gains distributed across segments of the population? Lastly, how do these potential distributions square with our moral intuitions (particularly if one considers oneself a nice Rawlsian liberal committed to a maximin distribution of social benefits...).

What does intelligence mean in this context?

Brain damage can lower intelligence, and I see no reason why it could not be raised as well. Even if genes provide something "defaults" or "limits," environmental effects are still relevant.

I don't even think intelligence itself is understood.we have very few things to compare human intelligence to. And there's many known cases of "less intelligent" species accomplishing things that "more intelligent" species cant. (Eg. Humans cant organize like ants can, though ants cant do calculus as far as we know)

So without knowing how to measure intelligence or what high intelligence is. I don't think I can have an opinion on if intelligence is fixed.

If by intelligence you mean something along the lines of information processing/synthesizing ability, then intelligence has been shown (hedging- strongly suggested) to be dynamic as the result of neuroplastic brain events. Assuming you believe some version of the brain = mind identity theory (otherwise, your intelligence may not depend on physical events and my example fails).

I think the most likely possibility is that it is fixed to some extant - i.e. your genetics give you a baseline. Then, of course, your environment effects how much you grow above your baseline.

Does it matter? Don't forget that existence is essence!

Yes. I'd wager Jewish infants adopted into a random family would perform better than black infants adopted into the same family, in a controlled study.