Who is the smartest person alive today?

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The discussion revolves around identifying the "smartest person" in various fields, with notable mentions including Stephen Hawking, Ed Witten, and Bill Gates. Participants express differing opinions on Hawking, with some criticizing his prominence in media over his scientific contributions. The conversation highlights the subjective nature of intelligence, suggesting that "smart" can vary across disciplines such as physics, music, and business. Various figures are proposed as contenders for intelligence, including Marilyn vos Savant, Roger Penrose, and even lesser-known individuals who excel in their fields. The debate touches on the importance of creativity, practical application of knowledge, and the role of public perception in defining intelligence. Overall, the thread emphasizes that intelligence is multifaceted and that the quest to determine the "smartest" individual is complex and often subjective.
  • #61
Originally posted by kenikov
Aren't IQ tests biased?

What if a person isn't good at taking timed tests?

I agree. It can be nice sometimes to be around a dummy. Things aren't so complicated with them.
 
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  • #62
Ghandi
Emmy Noether
Bobby Sands

Ghandi is perhaps rather a symbol of wisdom and humbleness.
 
  • #63
Sometimes I have doubt between deciding who are more intelligent, physicists or mathematicians. I think that physicists are more intelligent, since they need to possesses a great creativity. What do you think?
 
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  • #64
Originally posted by timejim
I agree. It can be nice sometimes to be around a dummy. Things aren't so complicated with them.

So, if I am not that good at taking tests, I am therefore "a dummy" what?? HUH??

May not have had good test scores, but, God Willing, I'll run your head into the ground on complexity...please don't be so assumptive, as it demonstrates a lack of intelligence...(ability to learn)
 
  • #65
Originally posted by Thallium
Ghandi
Emmy Noether
Bobby Sands

Ghandi is perhaps rather a symbol of wisdom and humbleness.

I should have considered Mother Theresa, after all, one who lives there life in such a way as to have a guaranteed place in "Heaven", is truly the wisest of the wise. Timejim
 
  • #66
Originally posted by NewChange
Mega-genius Jim Diamond has an immeasurable IQ based on all major IQ tests to date. His genius isn't limited to a specific subject but rather everything.

He claims to have a genius formula which I haven't verified. But having read the content on his web-page (http://www.mega-genius.com), I consider him a candidate as one of the smartest people. His wisdom sets him apart from most others.


From the site:
Each 90 minute audio cassette contains two separate lectures, each of which averages some 40 minutes.

In this day and age of cd's and dvd's and other portable media. "Mr. Mega Genius" still sells in the audio cassette format. Not very genius if you ask me. Not to mention very inconvenient and time consuming as you'll have to fast forward and rewind to get to the specific lecture you want to hear.

I only buy whoppers at Burger King
 
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  • #67
Originally posted by Monique
How do you define smartest person?
And why Stephen Hawking?

Oh, has anyone considered hillary clinton
 
  • #68
link starbureiy is the smartest person in the world

Mentat said:
I think a truly intelligent person admits the faults right along with the virtues. Thus, the most intelligent person would know that they were intelligent, but would never brag.

btw, I'm with chroot, Ed Witten is definitely the most intelligent person I know of (and Hawking does kind of suck, IMHO).
Ed Witten is rumormill, no? My pick is the black Einstein Link Starbureiy as the smartest person alive or otherwise. Christopher M Hirata is a close second. Link Starbureiy created a technology and the pixel industry on top of that. EVERYBODY at Caltech makes legend out of Hirata.
 
  • #69
How come know has yet mentioned any of the famous savants. I definitely nominated Daniel Tammett. The guy can learn a new language within a week.
 
  • #70
Kim Peek

 
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  • #71
Why?
 
  • #72
Darkiekurdo said:
Why?

Two of the primary definitions of 'smart' is knowledgeable, and mentally alert. Kim Peek has to be one of the most mentally alert people I have ever seen, and is a sponge for facts and knowledge. As the video I posted conveys, most people who are labeled as geniuses are usually extremely gifted in one, two, or maybe even three different areas. Kim peek exceeds exceptional in all areas at a dear cost... a sacrifice in conceptualizing and social skills.
 
  • #73
B. Elliott said:
Two of the primary definitions of 'smart' is knowledgeable, and mentally alert. Kim Peek has to be one of the most mentally alert people I have ever seen, and is a sponge for facts and knowledge. As the video I posted conveys, most people who are labeled as geniuses are usually extremely gifted in one, two, or maybe even three different areas. Kim peek exceeds exceptional in all areas at a dear cost... a sacrifice in conceptualizing and social skills.
Could be, but is he creative?
 
  • #74
Darkiekurdo said:
Could be, but is he creative?

Staying within the definition of the OPs original question, creativity is not an an aspect of 'smart'. If the question was who is the most creative, Kim Peek would not be a choice.

 
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  • #75
B. Elliott said:
Staying within the definition of the OPs original question, creativity is not an an aspect of 'smart'. If the question was who is the most creative, Kim Peek would not be a choice.


Why not? I don't think someone who is only able to absorb knowledge and not apply it is very smart.
 
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  • #76
Darkiekurdo said:
Why not? I don't think someone who is only able to absorb knowledge and not apply it is very smart.

And that's what you think.
 
  • #77
B. Elliott said:
And that's what you think.
Of course, do you think your definition of 'smart' is universal?
 
  • #78
Darkiekurdo said:
Of course, do you think your definition of 'smart' is universal?

Not really. Most of the people I personally know that would be considered exceptionally intelligent, are very universal. To me, the word smart is a very defined word. Implying that one who is smart is exceptionally knowledgeable. One who is smart, it not necessarily intelligent.
 
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  • #79
Actually, i'll take that word knowledgeable back. It implies cognitive abilities that what I consider smart, don't posses. Peek being an example.
 
  • #80
Playing the definition card is useless. Most people get obscenely irritated when people ask them to define terms but it is only natural if a conversation is to remain coherent that everyone knows exactly what they're talking about. So much time is wasted over minutiae if terms are not defined. B. Elliot made his point and that's that. This thread is ancient so I doubt we'll get to see what the OP actually meant by smart.
 
  • #81
I used to work with an engineer that was very intelligent, but he wasn't too smart. He could think things through to arrive at "logically" workable solutions, but he lacked the ability to parse those into practical applications. He cost my company many hundreds of thousands of dollars.
 
  • #82
I believe the OP died of cancer.
 
  • #84
Kurdt said:
Playing the definition card is useless. Most people get obscenely irritated when people ask them to define terms but it is only natural if a conversation is to remain coherent that everyone knows exactly what they're talking about. So much time is wasted over minutiae if terms are not defined. B. Elliot made his point and that's that. This thread is ancient so I doubt we'll get to see what the OP actually meant by smart.

Thankyou Kurdt. This thread definitely taught me that there are many interpretations of the words smart and intelligence. I also now fully sympathize with my father for what he went through during my toddler years.:smile:
 
  • #85
FZ+ said:
Bill Gates, perhaps, because he is smart enough to realize you can make money out of this "microcomputer" thing.

You, I, and everyone else realizes that as well.

He is certainly the most successful in terms of getting rich, which is how success is normally measured in the modern, capitalist world.

The question is who is the smartest person alive today, not who is the richest person alive today.
 
  • #86
timejim said:
HMMMMMMM, I would consider Stephen Hawking.

He's just dumb and never produced anything useful.

To answer your question : any guy that was able to build up a lucrative business/activity starting from very limited means.


marlon
 

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