nivek
As Above So Below
Scientists Determine Which Was Wiser: Yoda or Spock
Who is wiser: Mister Spock or Master Yoda?
That sounds like a game Dr. Sheldon Cooper would think up on “The Big Bang Theory” (with the obvious (to him) conclusion that he himself would be ranked higher than both) but the question is actually part of a scientific study to determine the personality characteristics of the wisest of the wise. Which of these beloved sci-fi characters did the researchers deem to be the wisest? What would the winner think of science spending money on such a study?
The methodology is logical. Continue.
And the winner is …
Not so fast. The bookies are still counting the bets.
Patience, young Jedi.
It turns out this was not a frivolous celebrity study but a serious attempt to help science through a recent rough patch where it’s meeting resistance – if not downright hostilities – at the highest levels of politics, business and public opinion. Dr. Grossmann found himself constantly being asked by fellow scientists if part of the problem might be that the seeming lack of emotions in the field was causing people to question whether their conclusions came from truly wise reasoning. Initially, Grossmann scoffed at the questions. However, he agreed to lead what eventually became a four-year study.
And the conclusions?
No, they didn’t ask me either.
.
Who is wiser: Mister Spock or Master Yoda?
That sounds like a game Dr. Sheldon Cooper would think up on “The Big Bang Theory” (with the obvious (to him) conclusion that he himself would be ranked higher than both) but the question is actually part of a scientific study to determine the personality characteristics of the wisest of the wise. Which of these beloved sci-fi characters did the researchers deem to be the wisest? What would the winner think of science spending money on such a study?
The methodology is logical. Continue.
Study co-authors Igor Grossmann, professor of psychology at the University of Waterloo, Harrison Oaks, a PhD candidate in psychology at the school, and Henri C. Santos, a recent graduate, chose to study the relationship between wisdom and emotion – specifically, the traditional theory that controlling intense emotions leads to wiser reasoning versus the new theory that emotions provide insights into life experiences which lead to wiser reasoning. Their results were published this week in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.
And the winner is …
Not so fast. The bookies are still counting the bets.
Patience, young Jedi.
It turns out this was not a frivolous celebrity study but a serious attempt to help science through a recent rough patch where it’s meeting resistance – if not downright hostilities – at the highest levels of politics, business and public opinion. Dr. Grossmann found himself constantly being asked by fellow scientists if part of the problem might be that the seeming lack of emotions in the field was causing people to question whether their conclusions came from truly wise reasoning. Initially, Grossmann scoffed at the questions. However, he agreed to lead what eventually became a four-year study.
With well over 3,000 wise participants, this was indeed a serious study. In one test, participants were asked to discuss a traumatic or life-changing event. In another, they reflected on major geopolitical conflicts and revealed what emotions they caused and how intense these feelings were. The team studied the language the participants used, looking for signs of philosophical-over-scientific reasoning, such as intellectual humility and recognition of changes. They agreed that the tests were subjective, which could explain why they made the test pool so large.
And the conclusions?
Sorry, Mister Spock. Master Yoda is the true wise one, at least according to this study. What would Dr. Sheldon Cooper think?
No, they didn’t ask me either.
.
