From Ian Dodkins, Imperial College at Silwood Park
Berkshire
I too have wondered why many successful people are apparent failures at the
outset (Forum, 1 March, p 51). Could it be that failure drives certain people to
work harder? Possibly this is the case for some individuals, though I am
inclined to believe something else.
An individual who can quickly absorb information and manipulate this to some
degree will be successful in exams. Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein, the two
scientists mentioned in the article, had two things in common: first, they were
not entirely successful in an educational environment; secondly, they produced
ideas which revolutionised aspects of science—and this is where the link
is to be found.
I would postulate that the people who can absorb information easily generally
do not question the information they are absorbing. So they are accepting of
current ideas and are unable to find the weak link in a scientific argument,
which could otherwise be exploited to produce radical ideas and new
theories.
Advertisement
This illustrates the wide gulf between education and intelligence (and why IQ
tests don’t tell you how intelligent someone is).
And in case you were all wondering, you’re right. I came nowhere near the top
of the class in my degree.
