[Bill_Nye]

https://mymodernmet.com/the-solvay-conference-photo/

How many geniuses can one room hold? In 1927, 29 of the world's most brilliant minds gathered in Brussels for the Fifth Solvay Conference. Convened by Belgian chemist and industrialist Ernest Solvay, the theme of the conference that year was “Electrons and Photons”—topics of contention in the newly developed theories of quantum mechanics. Among the group were Nobel laureates and professors holding esteemed university chairs, including legendary names such as Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, and Erwin Schrödinger. Together, the attendees gathered for what has been called “the most intelligent photo” of all time—a simple snapshot taken at one of the most exciting moments in scientific history.

My question to you is, how do we return to the culture that produced some of the greatest minds in human history? Is it even a desirable goal? What kind of culture do you think produces some of the greatest minds? I just see the world facing some of the greatest challenges in history like it was about 100 years ago. We have the threat of war in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Climate change. The cultural changes we will need to get to become an interplanetary species. How do we make sure we get the best minds in the world get a say in the room in the halls of power to effect positive change?

[Potemkin]

https://mymodernmet.com/the-solvay-conference-photo/







My question to you is, how do we return to the culture that produced some of the greatest minds in human history? Is it even a desirable goal? What kind of culture do you think produces some of the greatest minds? I just see the world facing some of the greatest challenges in history like it was about 100 years ago. We have the threat of war in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Climate change. The cultural changes we will need to get to become an interplanetary species. How do we make sure we get the best minds in the world get a say in the room in the halls of power to effect positive change?

Those geniuses were unable to prevent the horrors of WWI, the collapse of Tsarist Russia, Stalin’s Great Terror, the rise of Hitler, the mass slaughter of WWII, and the half-century long Cold War.

So I don’t think we’re missing out on anything, @Bill_Nye.

[froggo]

I suspect a singular photograph of the buddha (if someone could pop through a time machine with an SLR round their neck) would be at least on par with the photograph of all those combined scientists. It depends really on what kind of intelligence a society wants to value... and does valuing a certain kind of intelligence make one society more intelligent than a society that values an alternative form of intelligence?

[AFAIK]

Unfortunately the people on the other side of the camera are complete morons who felt the need to persecute the greatest mind in Europe who was single-handedly responsible for allied victory over the Nazis. Nowadays they'd tolerate his homosexuality but would insist his skills are best used by wall st bankers who'd put him to work juggling numbers on a screen.

[Bill_Nye]

Unfortunately the people on the other side of the camera are complete morons who felt the need to persecute the greatest mind in Europe who was single-handedly responsible for allied victory over the Nazis. Nowadays they'd tolerate his homosexuality but would insist his skills are best used by wall st bankers who'd put him to work juggling numbers on a screen.

You're referring to Turing?

[AFAIK]

Yes