Potential
People often believe we, as human species, have great potential. In numbers, it is often said we only uses 1% of our potential. Imagine the possiblity of explore our own hidden potential!
A famous story that backs up the 99% potential claim is the movie Rain Man, which is based on the real person -- Kim Peek, who can memorize stuff on signt and do calculations like a machine. It is fascinating, and it is REAL! Just imagine the possiblity of we, ordinary people, can release this potential -- by drugs or rays -- what we will be able to achieve!
I used to do that "WoW" on reading such stories, but now, as I grow older, and gain more senses, I start to question this potential claim. I don't think we are only using 1% of our possible potential. We, as human in general, are doing 100% of what we are capable of, and we are quite successful in surviving this world. When I read the report on Kim Peek again, now I see the other side, his disability in physical skills, and the fact Rayman having a far less chances of surviving without other people's special care and attendance. So basically it is essentially a sacrifice of certain ability to gain some other ability. As a millions of years of evolution, I believe the current ability allocation of our brain and body is at the optimum to survive. And any re-allocations -- sacrificing certain ability to gain stronger ability of some others -- are often leaving the whole entity more vulnarable.
Of course there will be some people smarter than the other people, in certain area and in certain environment; and there probably will be some room to increase our inteligence and overall ability in fighting the nature. But I don't think there is anywhere with 99% of potential waiting for us to dig.
A famous story that backs up the 99% potential claim is the movie Rain Man, which is based on the real person -- Kim Peek, who can memorize stuff on signt and do calculations like a machine. It is fascinating, and it is REAL! Just imagine the possiblity of we, ordinary people, can release this potential -- by drugs or rays -- what we will be able to achieve!
I used to do that "WoW" on reading such stories, but now, as I grow older, and gain more senses, I start to question this potential claim. I don't think we are only using 1% of our possible potential. We, as human in general, are doing 100% of what we are capable of, and we are quite successful in surviving this world. When I read the report on Kim Peek again, now I see the other side, his disability in physical skills, and the fact Rayman having a far less chances of surviving without other people's special care and attendance. So basically it is essentially a sacrifice of certain ability to gain some other ability. As a millions of years of evolution, I believe the current ability allocation of our brain and body is at the optimum to survive. And any re-allocations -- sacrificing certain ability to gain stronger ability of some others -- are often leaving the whole entity more vulnarable.
Of course there will be some people smarter than the other people, in certain area and in certain environment; and there probably will be some room to increase our inteligence and overall ability in fighting the nature. But I don't think there is anywhere with 99% of potential waiting for us to dig.
posted by Hui Zhou at 10:38 AM
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