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January 25, 2007

Jeff R.:The Wobegon Effect

There once was a great deal of anxiety about 'the singularity'. The theory was that we'd make smarter brains, with genetic engineering, or neurochemistry, or computers. These brains would be better at making stuff...including even smarter brains. Soon, you'd end up with superbrains with more in common with God than with us hairless apes.

Now we know better. Turns out, there's a hard limit to how intelligent minds can get before going mad. Since most parents would rather have kids that are well-adjusted than braniacs, we've forgone a world of mad genius for one where everyone is merely above average.

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