Nihil,I wonder if I'm posting to the choir, but you keep bringing up the prize of intelligence as desirable and worthy of our actions to promote it, while also advocating diversity of other traits, such as beauty. I don't see intelligence as some major weight on a scale's side. Many traits are useful, even required.
I don't even see the stoic's well-rounded ideal as perfection, but rather the acceptance of any non-destructive trait. Even 'destructive' needs a wide definition, since most destruction comes from maladapted behavior, not intrinsic traits. Similarly, what is called intelligence is often perspective, and that is enhanced by multi-cultural exposure. With this, I agree with your multi-cultural assessment.
When you talk of weeding out dysfunctional human traits in a short time, I am reminded of the Indian caste experiment. It has gone on for thousands of years, but shows little results in differentiating new indians between castes. |
