https://padlet.com/panze_h_04/h8dath92njwq Write a short paragraph describing the historical evolution of the nature versus nurture debate behind theoretical explanations for intelligence. en-us 2017-03-01 04:54:00 UTC 2025-11-26 06:19:59 UTC hello@padlet.com nuic_d_217 https://padlet.com/panze_h_04/h8dath92njwq/wish/156955176 In the 19th century and early 20th century (even up until the 1970's) the idea of intelligence being related to race, gender and genetics was pervasive. This idea forms the basis of Eugenics, where certain characteristics and abilities of people (i.e. intelligence) is inherited - and thus populations can be 'modified' through the use of 'selective breeding' in order to weed out 'undesirable' traits. This was a gross misrepresentation and misuse of Charles Darwins theory of evolution, applying natural selection in nature to human culture, politics (social darwinism) and in this case, intelligence. 
However more recently (and even back then) the idea that intelligence is based on genetics is being disregarded, and being replaced with the idea that intelligence is based upon more than performance in school or in a work place. It is more varied than ones ability in science or maths - and that there are multiple forms of intelligence. A person may be shockingly bad at maths, but extremly talented in art and music - so are they intelligent? Intelligence can range from a persons ability to solve complicated mathematical problems mentally in a whim, social intelligence, practical intelligence, abstract intelligence and so on. ]]> 2017-03-01 09:29:34 UTC https://padlet.com/panze_h_04/h8dath92njwq/wish/156955176 https://padlet.com/panze_h_04/h8dath92njwq/wish/156955761 From the 1800's intelligence was seen to be something that was innate and heavily related to your class, level of education, and race.Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911) believed that intelligence was innate and was passed down through the male line, which led to the development of a concept known as eugenics - the selective breeding to ensure intelligence was not contaminated by interbreeding with less intelligent groups. Eugenics involved the castration and sterilisation of less educated people, and was popular up until as late as the 1970's. On the other hand, Alfred Binet (1857-1911) beloved that intelligence can only be measured by setting questions based on reasoning- he completely rejected the idea that intelligence is innate, instead saying it was a result of learning and experience. This is more similar to a modern day view of intelligence, however it is likely that some still believe in Eugenics.]]> 2017-03-01 09:31:52 UTC https://padlet.com/panze_h_04/h8dath92njwq/wish/156955761 https://padlet.com/panze_h_04/h8dath92njwq/wish/156955928 The first ideas of what intelligence was and how to measure it started with Sir Francis Galton who believed that a certain subset of people were inherintly more intelligent than the rest of the world, white upperclass British males, this is called Eugenics and through it, it was believed to be possible to get rid off unintelligent people (who were often non-whites, criminals and the mentally and physically unhealthy) by sterilizing these people. Alfred Binet thoroughly dispised eugenics and believed that intelligence was something that changed throughout the course of a persons life, he designed an intelligence test that was co-designed with Theodore Simon, to try and target children new to school that may fall behind/get ahead.]]> 2017-03-01 09:32:37 UTC https://padlet.com/panze_h_04/h8dath92njwq/wish/156955928