IDW bellows, IQ is unignorable and important!, and in the same breath declares, liberalism is the cornerstone of our civilization!

Today we explore this contradiction, with emphasis on one old book (a David Duke favorite).
After several chapter musing about instincts and human nature, the point emerges: modern man, the cause of civilization, was the product of evolutionary selection during ice ages.
After several chapter musing about instincts and human nature, the point emerges: modern man, the cause of civilization, was the product of evolutionary selection during ice ages.
After several chapter musing about instincts and human nature, the point emerges: modern man, the cause of civilization, was the product of evolutionary selection during ice ages.
After several chapter musing about instincts and human nature, the point emerges: modern man, the cause of civilization, was the product of evolutionary selection during ice ages.
Our ancestral competition, it turns out, selected for those tribes with the largest brain volumes.

Clear evidence that a selection for intelligence was at play, for the idea that intelligence is correlated with brain volume is a truth that “crushed to earth will rise again.”
Something interesting then happened. In periods between ice ages, Cro-Magnons, who surpassed Neanderthals, experienced such temperate weather that selection pressures became irrelevant.

Death rates declined and those who would have been selected out reproduced too much.
Something interesting then happened. In periods between ice ages, Cro-Magnons, who surpassed Neanderthals, experienced such temperate weather that selection pressures became irrelevant.Death rates declined and those who would have been selected out reproduced too much.
Something interesting then happened. In periods between ice ages, Cro-Magnons, who surpassed Neanderthals, experienced such temperate weather that selection pressures became irrelevant.Death rates declined and those who would have been selected out reproduced too much.
Something interesting then happened. In periods between ice ages, Cro-Magnons, who surpassed Neanderthals, experienced such temperate weather that selection pressures became irrelevant.Death rates declined and those who would have been selected out reproduced too much.
Indeed, it was the _earlier_ Neanderthals that were most advanced. They had already degenerated for generations, due to relative ease, by the time the Cro-Mags conquered.

And it was those Cro-Magnons that were the “first giants” of human civilization.
And the cycle kept going. Some of the greatest contributions, such as the wheel and animal domestication, arrived after prolonged periods of selection pressure.

The minor civilizations that came and went during those millennia showed similar trends.
And the cycle kept going. Some of the greatest contributions, such as the wheel and animal domestication, arrived after prolonged periods of selection pressure.The minor civilizations that came and went during those millennia showed similar trends.
And the cycle kept going. Some of the greatest contributions, such as the wheel and animal domestication, arrived after prolonged periods of selection pressure.The minor civilizations that came and went during those millennia showed similar trends.
Voltaire puts it wonderfully: civilizations that live in luxury give way to more adventurous, envigored foes.

As I covered elsewhere, many civilizations, steeped in comfort, _yielded_ to barbarians. A lack of will.
Voltaire puts it wonderfully: civilizations that live in luxury give way to more adventurous, envigored foes.As I covered elsewhere, many civilizations, steeped in comfort, _yielded_ to barbarians. A lack of will.
Voltaire puts it wonderfully: civilizations that live in luxury give way to more adventurous, envigored foes.As I covered elsewhere, many civilizations, steeped in comfort, _yielded_ to barbarians. A lack of will.
Comfort produces other causal pathways to decline: just as abortion was a cause of decline in ancient civilizations, so was “family disruption” and a lack of “sexual restraint.”

Does our particular historical moment seem so unique, Last Men?
Comfort produces other causal pathways to decline: just as abortion was a cause of decline in ancient civilizations, so was “family disruption” and a lack of “sexual restraint.” Does our particular historical moment seem so unique, Last Men?
Comfort produces other causal pathways to decline: just as abortion was a cause of decline in ancient civilizations, so was “family disruption” and a lack of “sexual restraint.” Does our particular historical moment seem so unique, Last Men?
Comfort produces other causal pathways to decline: just as abortion was a cause of decline in ancient civilizations, so was “family disruption” and a lack of “sexual restraint.” Does our particular historical moment seem so unique, Last Men?
A courtesy recap, for reference.

But what is missing? A factor that can feasibly explain all the others: heredity.
A courtesy recap, for reference.But what is missing? A factor that can feasibly explain all the others: heredity.
A courtesy recap, for reference.But what is missing? A factor that can feasibly explain all the others: heredity.
A courtesy recap, for reference.But what is missing? A factor that can feasibly explain all the others: heredity.
‘Idiocracy’ was apparently a solid history, not only a social commentary and future speculation.

Rome declined in part due to its upper classes’ “sterility.” Having children became “unfashionable.”
‘Idiocracy’ was apparently a solid history, not only a social commentary and future speculation.Rome declined in part due to its upper classes’ “sterility.” Having children became “unfashionable.”
‘Idiocracy’ was apparently a solid history, not only a social commentary and future speculation.Rome declined in part due to its upper classes’ “sterility.” Having children became “unfashionable.”
‘Idiocracy’ was apparently a solid history, not only a social commentary and future speculation.Rome declined in part due to its upper classes’ “sterility.” Having children became “unfashionable.”
And a dysgenic explanation might hold true for the British empire as well.

Entire cohorts of elites were wiped out from Cholera because they were stationed in peripheral India. Brings a whole new, literal meaning to @thespandrell’s IQ Shredders.
Declining intelligence has dire consequences for maintaining the initial complexity of a civilization, which may “sink into a dark age of its own creation.”

Civilization peaks after intelligence, so it’s not immediately obvious.
Declining intelligence has dire consequences for maintaining the initial complexity of a civilization, which may “sink into a dark age of its own creation.”Civilization peaks after intelligence, so it’s not immediately obvious.
Declining intelligence has dire consequences for maintaining the initial complexity of a civilization, which may “sink into a dark age of its own creation.”Civilization peaks after intelligence, so it’s not immediately obvious.
As civilization becomes more “protective,” selection pressures decline as the incentive for exceptional action is unnecessary.

And because civilization lags behind intelligence, it seems we’re at last free from our dependence on the creativity of great men.
Pendell covers cases like Egypt at length. But we’re interested in America, right? What about our history?

In fact, the harsh winters in early America selected the best of an already bright Puritan stock. Their hereditary legacy lasted generations.
Pendell covers cases like Egypt at length. But we’re interested in America, right? What about our history?In fact, the harsh winters in early America selected the best of an already bright Puritan stock. Their hereditary legacy lasted generations.
Pendell covers cases like Egypt at length. But we’re interested in America, right? What about our history?In fact, the harsh winters in early America selected the best of an already bright Puritan stock. Their hereditary legacy lasted generations.
Pendell covers cases like Egypt at length. But we’re interested in America, right? What about our history?In fact, the harsh winters in early America selected the best of an already bright Puritan stock. Their hereditary legacy lasted generations.
Due to these evolutionary pressures, ancestors of the original Puritans were more innovative. They were more often inventors, and even in the 20th century they were over-represented among scientists!

America’s founding was, in many ways, its destiny. For awhile. . . .
Take, for example, the famous Jamestown colony. They were subject to harsh selection pressures and those who survived became a “creative minority” that included Benjamin Franklin.
Take, for example, the famous Jamestown colony. They were subject to harsh selection pressures and those who survived became a “creative minority” that included Benjamin Franklin.
Take, for example, the famous Jamestown colony. They were subject to harsh selection pressures and those who survived became a “creative minority” that included Benjamin Franklin.
In Early America, there were no “non-producers,” due to necessity.

Can we still say the same of America today? What happens when the producing class becomes a minority. If only history could furnish us with answers. . . .
In Early America, there were no “non-producers,” due to necessity.Can we still say the same of America today? What happens when the producing class becomes a minority. If only history could furnish us with answers. . . .
In Early America, there were no “non-producers,” due to necessity.Can we still say the same of America today? What happens when the producing class becomes a minority. If only history could furnish us with answers. . . .
And today? Let’s skip all the fun racist-y stats (incentive to check the book). It’s enough to note, even in the ‘60s, “the intelligent . . . spend an ever greater amount taking care of the less intelligent.”

Certainly the trend has since worsened.
And today? Let’s skip all the fun racist-y stats (incentive to check the book). It’s enough to note, even in the ‘60s, “the intelligent . . . spend an ever greater amount taking care of the less intelligent.”Certainly the trend has since worsened.
And today? Let’s skip all the fun racist-y stats (incentive to check the book). It’s enough to note, even in the ‘60s, “the intelligent . . . spend an ever greater amount taking care of the less intelligent.”Certainly the trend has since worsened.
With this we return to the original point. It is inconsistent to recognize the relevance of intelligence and support liberalization, unless your goal is to subvert civilization.

All egalitarianism eases selection.
What does Pendell recommend? Irrelevant, nothing politically feasible today.

We are already well into the decline, unknowingly because a decline comes “not with a bang but with a whimper.” We are too dumb to even recognize the problem.
Exit is the only viable solution. A creative civilization is never built atop the old one.

Best one can do is plant the seeds of a new civilization elsewhere. Sorry.
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