Nobel prize in physics

[daudaudaudau]

Does anyone have an explanation for the seemingly disproportionate number of Jewish Nobel laureates (no crazy conspiracies)? Here is the Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_Nobel_laureates

[Evo]

The article doesn't say how many are Jewish, so how do you know it's *disproportionate*. And if the majority are, why is it of any importance? I'd say the overwhelming number of Nobel winners are Westerners, no?

What is your purpose for this thread?

[Gokul43201]

The article doesn't say how many are Jewish, so how do you know it's *disproportionate*.It lists those that self-identify as Jewish. By my count, they make up a little over 20% of the Laureatry.

And if the majority are, why is it of any importance?It's at least a curiosity, given that Jews make up about 0.2% of the general population (from the wiki page).

I'd say the overwhelming number of Nobel winners are Westerners, no?And there are good reasons for that. Over most of the past century, virtually all the developed nations are found in the West. That means they have more access to research funding, modern technology and information in general. Furthermore, many parts of the world outside the West are, and have been, very closed off and what happens there rarely comes to the attention of the rest of the world. It is therefore not unreasonable to expect that an overwhelming majority of Laureates are from the West.

What is your purpose for this thread?To perhaps come up with a similar explanation to the one above, but explaining the high incidence of Jewish - rather than Western - Laureates. Well, that's my reading of the OP.

[Evo]

To perhaps come up with a similar explanation to the one above, but explaining the high incidence of Jewish - rather than Western - Laureates. Well, that's my reading of the OP.For what reason? 20% are Jewish, so 80% are Christian? It's no secret that Jewish people hold academia in high regard and that their culture stresses hard work and success. I do aniticipate a shift where we will see more non-westerners doing work worthy of recognition.

[Gokul43201]

It's no secret that Jewish people hold academia in high regard and that their culture stresses hard work and success.I suppose that's the kind of explanation that the OP was looking for.

I do aniticipate a shift where we will see more non-westerners doing work worthy of recognition.As do I.

[humanino]

Given the number of jewish exodus in history, it is not a surprise it seems to me that the jewish culture values education : they had no land to cultivate or other properties to get value from. At least it is a hypothesis. In any case, I would say good for them that they value education so much !

From my little familiarity with american culture, another obvious explanation is that other religious people such as christians do not value education so much. At least, they do not seem to form a scientist point of view.

[Pengwuino]

Look at Asian-Americans in American universities. They are vastly disproportionate in their attendance to top universities. Why? It's no secret their cultures see education in higher regards than most other cultures. I imagine it is the exact same situation with Jewish people. When a culture emphasizes something, it's a powerful force in a person's development.

[elfboy]

the idea of superior Jewish/asian intelligence is a myth. the greatest mathematicians & physicists are from all races and backgrounds

[Pengwuino]

the idea of superior Jewish/asian intelligence is a myth. the greatest mathematicians & physicists are from all races and backgrounds

Intelligence is not the same as cultural emphasis on education and scientific endeavors.

[Jack21222]

the idea of superior Jewish/asian intelligence is a myth. the greatest mathematicians & physicists are from all races and backgrounds

Hi, captain non-sequitur! The idea of superior Persian women is a myth, the hottest women on the planet are from all races and backgrounds.

I hope that sounded as out-of-place to you as your statement sounded to me.

[DR13]

As a person who was raised Jewish I can confirm what has been said previously. My parents value my siblings and my education very highly. The same is true for my Jewish friends. Even the rabbi will preach the importance of education! It is a cornerstone of the Jewish culture (along with the really good food).

NOTE: The following part is based on antecdotal evidence and generalizations since I am not Asain.
The main difference that I see between the Asain emphasis on education and the Jewish emphasis on education is how the parents go about emphasizing it. While in the Asain community it comes through the form of intense pressure, the Jewish culture does not take such an intense approach.

[Jack21222]

As a person who was raised Jewish I can confirm what has been said previously. My parents value my siblings and my education very highly. The same is true for my Jewish friends. Even the rabbi will preach the importance of education! It is a cornerstone of the Jewish culture (along with the really good food).

NOTE: The following part is based on antecdotal evidence and generalizations since I am not Asain.
The main difference that I see between the Asain emphasis on education and the Jewish emphasis on education is how the parents go about emphasizing it. While in the Asain community it comes through the form of intense pressure, the Jewish culture does not take such an intense approach.

Is this true of Jewish women in your experience? Or only Jewish men?

A very good friend of mine is modern orthodox, and some of her family members actually look down upon her for her aspirations of getting a Ph.D in biology. They think she's some sort of failure because she's not married at age 21. Her parents aren't quite so bad about it, but she tells me of the disappointment from her many aunts and uncles, and even her rabbi.

[elfboy]

Hi, captain non-sequitur! The idea of superior Persian women is a myth, the hottest women on the planet are from all races and backgrounds.

I hope that sounded as out-of-place to you as your statement sounded to me.

I implore you to explain how my statement is wrong in more detail, i bet you can't.

Education was not valued too highly in my household, but that's ok because I developed my own mathematics and still pull $30-60k a month in earning with my internet biz even though I never finished college.

My college educated friends are either broke, looking for jobs and have no original research under their names.

[DR13]

Is this true of Jewish women in your experience? Or only Jewish men?

A very good friend of mine is modern orthodox, and some of her family members actually look down upon her for her aspirations of getting a Ph.D in biology. They think she's some sort of failure because she's not married at age 21. Her parents aren't quite so bad about it, but she tells me of the disappointment from her many aunts and uncles, and even her rabbi.

My family is reform (the opposite end of the sectrum from orthodox). My parents believe in god and we go to services for the High Holidays (Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur) but we do not observe Shabbat. In refrom and conservative Judism, women are fully equal (conservative is between orthodox and reform).

Once you get into the orthodox levels you will find many different belief systems. A neighbor of ours is an orthodox rabbi. He is very accepting of all people (women, gays, etc) and even believes in evolution. His daughters are encouraged to live a fulfilling life. However, he is adamant that god exists (he believes that god put the process of evolution into nature). He believes that anyone who lives a good life--including those of other faiths--will go to heaven. It should be noted that though he is very accepting, my guess would be that he would be upset if his daughters did not have children. Having children is seen as a big mitzvah in the Torah.

Then there are orthodox sects that do not believe in evolution and take the book of Genisis as a literal story. I have been confronted by someone of this sect and he went straight out and said that I was going to hell.

Then there are the super orthodox who mainly live in certain parts of Israel. These people are, to put it bluntly, freakin insane. These sects produce the people like the young man who assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Sorry that was so long. Hope it helps!

[Jack21222]

I implore you to explain how my statement is wrong in more detail, i bet you can't.

Education was not valued too highly in my household, but that's ok because I developed my own mathematics and still pull $30-60k a month in earning with my internet biz even though I never finished college.

My college educated friends are either broke, looking for jobs and have no original research under their names.

Because nobody in this thread said anything about Jewish or Asian intelligence. You just threw it out there for no reason whatsoever. So how much did we bet? How much do you owe me?

[Gokul43201]

I implore you to explain how my statement is wrong in more detail, i bet you can't.This thread is not about intelligence, but it is about mathematical and scientific achievement. In that regard, the OP clearly demostrates that your second statement if wrong. Scientific achievement is not distributed uniformly among the races. Nor, for that matter, is say, athletic achievement, to pick another random example.