TheChampagneSommelier recently had an odd dream; and reflects over stupidity & dropping levels of IQ? [read the full champagne story]
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
I recently had a odd dream; Being part of an experiment where one is sedated and suddenly wakes up 500 years later in a world where society has been dumbed down by technological development sounds like a fascinating premise for a movie. In this world, the protagonist suddenly becomes the smartest being on the planet due to people becoming increasingly dependent on technology for their thoughts and actions.
In the dystopian future depicted in the film, smart refrigerators and self-driving cars have become the norm, and algorithms control almost every aspect of people’s lives. Despite all this advanced technology, human intelligence has steadily decreased over the past centuries, a trend that began at the beginning of the 21st century. Instead of becoming smarter, we only become more reliant on our electronic devices.
James Flynn, the New Zealand researcher who discovered the so-called Flynn effect, worries about this shift. Instead of reading books and challenging our minds, we spend hours consuming trivial entertainment on our screens. This leads to a decline in our reading comprehension and a general decay of education.
Although IQ may not be the sole measure of intelligence, the overall decline in cognitive ability is concerning. The world is becoming increasingly ignorant and reliant on technology, increasing the risk of losing the ability to think critically and solve problems on our own.
At the same time, there is some comfort in the idea that ignorance is bliss, according to some researchers. But for those aware of the downward trend, it is difficult not to feel some concern for the future. Perhaps it is time to put down the phone, open a book, and challenge our minds anew before it is too late to reverse the trend.
Maybe that knowledge can bring some comfort. But still, the development worries. Where will it end? How stupid can we get? Nah, but should I uncork a bottle of champagne, sink into my favorite armchair and pick out one of the books in the ‘must read on holiday’ pile on the coffee table?
