Intelligence and Success

The debate over “The Bell Curve” continues on your editorial pages, but I have yet to hear or read of anyone challenging some unstated premises: Intelligence equals success and success equals wealth. How many intelligent people would be successful if “cunning” were filtered out of their personalities? Is intelligence at the top of the list of most admired virtues? Why, because it creates wealth? If the goal were to develop a happier and wiser society, would intelligence be vying for the top spot with wisdom, honesty and compassion?

VAN AJEMIAN

Montebello