By their IQs – intelligence quotients, that is – you shall know them.
So every so often, the IQs of nations of the world are measured. Per the latest, ours is not really that bad – needing more improvement, no doubt—but not among the best, let alone the best, in the world, or in Asia for that matter.
The latest IQ report shows the Philippine average at 81, which is 111th out of 199 countries. Our average IQ was found lower than that of North Korea (91), Myanmar (90), Irag (89) and Afghanistan (82). Not surprisingly, Japan (106), Taiwan (106) Singapore (105) are among the world’s highest. China and South Korea are also included. The five countries have one thing in common, if it is factored at all: Confucian ethic.
The pandemic also brought down our IQ five points lower from the pre-pandemic average of 86. It was also dead last in the ASEAN region led by Singapore with 108. Vietnam had 94, Malaysia had 92, Thailand had 91, Brunei 91, Cambodia 91, Laos 89 and Indonesia 87.
What gives? IQ is the standard measure of smartness. But there other contributing factors such as poverty, quality of education and other socio-economic circumstances. The Filipinos, apparently, didn’t do well during a twin fate of authoritarian regime and a calamity as can be gleaned from the data of the world population review . Our IQ world standing is a wake up call – again – to our national leaders.
Meantime, the debate on whether IQ is a function of genes or environment continues. The two school of thoughts have been simplified to nature (genes) and nurture (environment). It is said that the secretary to Albert Einstein once commented that if Einstein grew up with polar bears, he would still be Einstein. The late Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew believed in the role of genetics as well. He openly encouraged intermarriage among his people with high IQ. His country’s consistent standing in the upper echelon of the best and the brightest seems to validate this, apart from its highly reputable educational system.
Filipinos are very good musician,though, Lee Kuan Yew said in an inter view for his biography. “ Yes the boys (his) – they’re bright, they read the notes and produce the sounds but in a mechanical way.” Whereas you get a natural musician,a Filipino, he listens to it, he can without looking at the notes, reproduce for you the sound. He’s got the mental and musical capabilities.”
Sir Francis Galton, a 19th century scientist and polymath, believed in pedigrees or genetics. He thought geniuses, or people with high IQs owed their success to genetics or “natural abilities” passed on by their ancestors. It also explained why societies with many immigrants and refugees were often successful. We call it brain drain, to explain the diasporic movement our bright people to temporarily or permanently seek green pastures in foreign countries.
In his book “Geography of Genius”, Eric Weiner noted that foreign immigrants make up only about 13 percent of the United States population but they have most, if not all, patents and inventions in their names and have won most of the Noble Prize awards. Inversely, he also explained the decline of the Greek civilization because of the intermarriage of the Greeks to “lesser” peoples .
Jack Ma,the most famous Chinese businessmen, explained at least two factors leading to his rise as one of the smartest businessmen in the world through Alibaba. In an interview for the Weiner’s book, Ma cited the strict educational system in China and the influence of religion. Education, Taoism, and in a way, the coercive impact of the communist government influenced his success. In the end, however, Ma’s high profile success also became his undoing. He’s no longer as publicly visible as he used to be , apparently due to the coercive environment he lives in.
In his book, Weiner concludes that genius is not in a single individual but in a cluster, as in a certain geographical site, like Greece which produced most of the world’s philosophers like Socrates and Aristotle. Only Renaissance Florence (of Italy) came close, Weiner wrote. Machiavelli and the Medecis were her most famous citizens.
Notwithstanding the persuasive notes from history, Weiner thinks high IQ, or genius If you like, is not “out there” or “in here” but in spaces in between. He specifically says genius begins at home, like charity. And home means family , and what is a nation but groups of families that live, enrich and promote a culture of excellence, like world-class IQ.
Which means we have a lot of work to do, given where we are in the latest IQ world ranking. Quoting the ancient Greek poet Hesiod ,as Weiner did, “before the gates of excellence, the gods have placed much sweat. The road is long,rough and steep. The sweat of labor often mingled with the sweat of pain.”
Where do we begin?
There are at least two elephants in the room: poverty and corruption, More people fell deeper into poverty in 2022, especially outside Metro Manila ,according to the Social Weather Station,while income inequality continues to beset the country. Inequality of opportunity and low mobility, said the World Bank, waste human potential. The Philippines also ranks 116th among 180 countries in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index in 2022, moving up to 33rd place from 38th last year , and cited among the decliners in the Asia Pacific region.
With its huge debt, soaring inflation, rising criminal activities, political cross purposes hedging reforms and a perceived weak judiciary, the national leadership can be lost in the weeds, so to speak. A charter change, more borrowings through a dubious plan, increase intelligence funds and reviving the ROTC may not be the priorities needed to boost our IQ ranking in the world.
We have to define and determined where our genius loci should be. And it’s not in the mythical golden age of the past. Payment of the P203 billion estate tax ordered by the Supreme Court to the Marcoses will be a good way to start, thank you.
