We live in an era of unprecedented population growth. With over 7.8 billion people alive today, our present population accounts for nearly 7% of all modern humans who ever walked on this Earth. A fact is both astonishing and thought-provoking, particularly when we consider the distribution of intelligence and exceptional talent throughout history.
If you would gather every person who has ever lived into one large stadium, one out of every fourteen would be there. This should mean that we’re surrounded by more potential, more creativity, and more genius than ever before. But does it?
A strange reflection of distribution of Intelligence Intelligence, as measured by IQ, follows a normal distribution curve. This curve has remained consistent across different populations and times. Despite our booming population, the proportion of those with exceptionally high IQs remains small. So, while there are more people alive now, the likelihood of encountering a genius hasn’t increased proportionally.
Let’s explore this idea through the lens of Archimedes, often celebrated as one of history’s greatest minds. There are two compelling scenarios to consider: one where Archimedes wasn’t actually exceptional by today’s standards, and one where he was, but his kind of genius is less impactful now. Scenario One: Archimedes Wasn’t a Genius
What if Archimedes, in his time, wasn’t particularly exceptional? His groundbreaking work in mathematics and engineering might have been relatively accessible discoveries. This suggests that many foundational discoveries were low-hanging fruit. If so, today’s geniuses face a different landscape—one where the obvious breakthroughs have already been made, and new ones require delving into far more complex territory. Scenario Two: Archimedes Was a Genius
Now, consider if Archimedes truly was a genius. His profound contributions then underline a challenging reality: even the greatest minds might find it difficult to achieve similarly impactful discoveries today. The “easy” discoveries have been picked clean. Modern geniuses must navigate a world where significant advances demand sophisticated knowledge and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Consider the periodic table of elements. Most of it has already been discovered, mapped out, and understood. The elements that remain to be discovered, if any, lie at the extreme edges of stability and are exceedingly difficult to study. Similarly, many of the straightforward chemical discoveries have been made within the given set of physical laws we currently understand. This doesn’t mean that there are no chemical discoveries left, but they are likely to be more nuanced, complex, and harder to uncover.
In either scenario, the nature of intellectual achievement has evolved. The simple discoveries are mostly behind us, and today’s problems are exponentially more complex. This doesn’t diminish the potential for genius but shifts its context. We now need robust educational systems, cutting-edge research facilities, and collaborative networks to nurture and harness the talents of our 7.8 billion strong population.
The sheer number of people alive today should theoretically increase the number of geniuses among us. However, whether due to the depletion of simpler discoveries or the rising complexity of new challenges, individual brilliance alone is not enough. We must create environments that foster and amplify genius, leveraging our unprecedented population to tackle the intricate problems of our time. While the periodic table may be mostly complete, the unknown frontiers in chemistry and other sciences beckon for new minds to explore them, requiring deeper insights and more collaborative efforts than ever before.
