Nature, Nurture, and Human Autonomy with James Flynn

The guest of this podcast is Dr. James Flynn, Professor Emeritus at the University of Otago (New Zealand).

Topics discussed:

• Flynn’s attempts to clarify intelligence and its causes
• The g factor, and what gives rise to it
• The validity of multiple intelligences theory
• Intergenerational trends (the “Flynn effect”) vs. Within-generation trends
• The “social multiplier” model of intergenerational trends in intelligence
• Individual multipliers vs. social multipliers
• The multiple causes of black-white differences in IQ
• Charley Murray and the meritocracy thesis
• Transcending the politics of intelligence research
• The dangers of suppressing ideas and research
• The 20% wiggle room of autonomy on IQ tests
• The difference between internal and external environment
• The impact of having a “family handicap” on SAT scores
• What we can learn from astronomy about human intelligence
• Toward a meta-theory of intelligence
• Toward a more humane society