Comment by jdw64
19 hours ago
How would someone with an intellect like Demis Hassabis think?
I want to learn to think more like him. What differences between his way of thinking and mine create such a powerful gap? If I could understand those differences, I might also understand how to narrow that gap. And if we could identify the causes of that gap, perhaps humans in general could develop much further.
I truly envy his intelligence. When I read his writings, I can see fragments of knowledge that he cannot hide, and it makes me think: I want to become like that too.
> What differences between his way of thinking and [somebody else's]
Presumably sophistication ("sophisticated" as "complex" as opposed to "naïve" as in "less mature").
> If I could understand those differences, I might also understand how to narrow that gap
You narrow that gap through application on improved mental habits as aided by the leading examples of your good acquaintances (especially through reading). Just discipline yourself to think in a better way.
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Edit: oh, since I had to return out of a linguistic matter: examine thought and its tools - language is one, logic of course another, aletics a paramount one... Refine all your tools. Learn to see better and better.
I think he's just wired differently. Raw IQ is usually overrated IMO, but this is one of the cases where I believe the significant difference is critical.
Critical but maybe not sufficient. Hassabis claims to manage two separate workdays every day, the first spent in meetings in Deepmind's office, the second until late at night studying new papers. So not just high IQ but incredible energy too. And finally, as I understand, a highly competitive attitude.
If you're interested in better thinking, go read a bit about Charlie Munger - he's gone now, but he was thinking about thinking for quite a long time and has some good advice.
Farnam Street used to be a very good blog too, albeit it feels much more 'commercial' for the past 5 years.
I suspect Demis 'gapped' you structurally (upbringing, early decisions, luck, positioning), moreso than via intelligence, which doesn't actually vary that widely in humans.
Doesn't vary that widely in humans? Do you have a source for that?
Even if you take IQ, a 2-sigma event on that distribution is 'only' around 130. A 130 outpaces a 100, sure, but it's hardly full on dominance in most tasks.
Certainly much less powerful than just having rich or pushy parents.
Intelligence varies incredibly wildly in humans. So much so I think IQ might be a logarithmic scale.
Luck of the draw. Both in genetics, plus family resources & mentality when growing up.
Cannot become like that unfortunately. But hey, you are great already, and you can become even better. Your own version.
Well I feel the same way about Kim Kardasian. So I get what you are saying about the gap and finding ways to shrink it cause I want to become like that too.