The intelligence of the planet is constant, and the population is growing.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The total intelligence on Earth stays the same while more people are born. This dilutes the average intelligence per person as population grows.
- In plain terms
- More people means less average intelligence if total smartness stays fixed.
- What can you take from it?
- Population growth may lower average intellectual capacity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does education increase total planetary intelligence?
Another view
Intelligence is not a fixed resource like water.
More from Arthur C. Clarke
My favourite definition of 'Intellectual' is: 'A person whose education surpasses their intelligence.'
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