Yogi Berra 1925–2015
First, some Brief Historical Reflections
The concept of “genius” has evolved throughout the history of human inquiry. In the ancient world, intellectual brilliance was associated with the prominent philosophers, including Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, as well as mathematicians such as Thales and Archimedes. This trend to associate genius with philosophy and science continued through the Moslem and Hindu worlds up to the Renaissance when “genius” was expanded to include polymaths like Leonardo da Vinci. When Isaac Newton, in the late 17th century laid the foundations for modern science by underpinning it with mathematics, he became the quintessential genius, catapulting mathematics and physics to the top of the hierarchy as the most intellectually demanding disciplines. This perception was enhanced by Einstein’s landmark theories of relativity that could only be understood through a sophisticated knowledge of mathematics.
The successful development of the nuclear bombs that ended World War II, albeit with inhumane consequences, brought home the realization that physics was not merely an etherial academic enterprise, but a discipline with significant “real-world” applications. Prominent physicists in the Manhattan Project, including Oppenheimer, von Neumann, Teller, and Feynman were hailed as the new generation of geniuses, following Einstein. This status of physicists at the top of the hierarchy was recently depicted in the long-running sitcom featuring the character, Sheldon Cooper, as the stereotypical, emotionally-challenged, brilliant physicist. In short, at the beginning of the 21st century, physics became the glamour subject for those who sought to test their intellectual talents against the best and brightest.
Who becomes a Physics Major?
If you have demonstrated a high competence in mathematics and science in high school, have entered competitions in math or science or merely regard yourself as significantly more intelligent than average, you will probably consider mathematics or physics as a major. (Of course, some brilliant students might have other interests, and that’s why there are some brilliant people in most fields.) What does the data tell us about the correlation between IQ and college major?
The strong correlation between IQ and performance on tests such as the SAT is to be expected because these tests are similar, in many ways, to IQ tests. The main difference is that IQ tests are intended to be relatively knowledge-free, while SATs test require some degree of knowledge that can be acquired through study.
On account of this established correlation between IQ and SAT/ACT, GRE performance, only those who score well on the SATs will be able to gain admission to theoretical physics or mathematics, while people who score lower on the SATs will be able to gain entry into programs in education or some of the social sciences.
The figure below from the College Board gives the average SAT score by college major for the year 2014.
How Does this Perception Affect Students?
The graph shows that 10 years ago, mathematics and physics majors tended to draw the highest performers on the SATs. Consequently, the students choosing to major in mathematics or physics are aware that they are testing their mettle against many of the brightest members of their cohort. This prospect may excite or intimidate them–probably some mixture of both.
The Future
With the advent of AI, there may be a significant shift away from this glamorization of physics. Quantum physics seems to be currently stalled, and string theory may be unverifiable. Military funded may switch its focus from physics to computer science or cryptography. Simon Singh in his publication the Code Book states:
Although cryptography is now having a major impact on civilian activities, it should be noted that military cryptography remains an important subject. It has been said that the First World War was the chemists’ war, because mustard gas and chlorine were employed for the first time, and that the Second World War was the physicists’ war, because the atomic bomb was detonated. Similarly, it has been argued that the Third World War would be the mathematicians’ war because, mathematicians will have control over the next great weapon of war–information. Mathematicians have been responsible for developing the codes that are currently used to protect military information. Not surprisingly, mathematicians are also at the forefront of the battle to break these codes.
As Yogi Berra once observed, “Prediction is difficult–especially about the future.”
