Knowledge, Ken Jennings and Watson

[applepansy]

As I watched the following video I thought of D&C 130:19

"And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come."

Ken Jennings: Watson, Jeopardy and me, the obsolete know-it-all | Video on TED.com

What kind of future do you want to live in? What kind of future do you think we're going to live in?

[Windseeker]

I often wonder if we are any smarter then we were 100 or even 1000 years ago.

If you have ever read a letter from a barely literate (in his day) confederate soldier with a 3rd grade education and compare his hand writing and command of the english language to college graduates today it's pretty telling. Despite our growth in technology and science and social advances like equality and longevity we have made little progress in our individual inteligence.

One my goals is to learn to navigate by the stars. I'm still confounded by how it was done so long ago and I suspect that there are very fewer and fewer people who can do it today.

[applepansy]

I agree Windseeker.

I am determined that my grandson learn to write legibly at the very least. And to be able to write and converse with correct grammar.

I think we're already losing knowledge.

[Dravin]

If you have ever read a letter from a barely literate (in his day) confederate soldier with a 3rd grade education and compare his hand writing and command of the english language to college graduates today it's pretty telling. Despite our growth in technology and science and social advances like equality and longevity we have made little progress in our individual inteligence.

I'm not sure such comparisons are of any value as far as comparisons of intelligence go as all it does is reflect a change in educational focus. For instance, if you compared said confederate soldier's typing speed and accuracy compared to your average college graduate you'd find he'd loose that contest. We can pick our skills and educational tests to lean whichever way we prefer in these kind of comparisons.

[skippy740]

One my goals is to learn to navigate by the stars. I'm still confounded by how it was done so long ago and I suspect that there are very fewer and fewer people who can do it today.

With all of the 'light pollution', I would wonder if it's even possible today.

[applepansy]

I'm not sure such comparisons are of any value as far as comparisons of intelligence go as all it does is reflect a change in educational focus. For instance, if you compared said confederate soldier's typing speed and accuracy compared to your average college graduate you'd find he'd loose that contest. We can pick our skills and educational tests to lean whichever way we prefer in these kind of comparisons.

Skill sets change but what about knowledge? Ken Jennings makes some valid points.

[Dravin]

Skill sets change but what about knowledge? Ken Jennings makes some valid points.

Of course knowledge changes, but then knowledge isn't the same thing as intelligence. It suffers from the same issue that using skill sets does.

[applepansy]

Of course knowledge changes, but then knowledge isn't the same thing as intelligence. It suffers from the same issue that using skill sets does.

Fair enough...

What about truth? Does that change? Or principles?