When does the average person experience his or her intellectual peak? Is it true that most scientific breakthroughs were brought about by people who were in their 20’s??
What percentage of people who are Strom Thurman’s age (100) brains have turned to mush?
Thanks.
Your question is phrased in a challenging way, to say the least.
I read an article addressing this topic about 15 years ago (Harpers? Atlantic?), in which a researcher concluded that most renowned theoretical physicists achieve their life’s major work before they are 30. He also found that behavioral scientists generally reached their peak years not until their 30s and 40s, and writers/poets often later.
The author’s implication was that major breakthroughs in theoretical physics in particular require phenomenal brain power/originality, which allegedly peak when most individuals are in their mid to late 20s. Re: the behavioral disciplines, the author suggested that years/decades of accumulated research and reading were needed before individuals were likely to contribute seminal, groundbreaking ideas.
Whatever. Definitions could be argued all day, such as what is genius? Does an individual’s peak intellectual powers neatly correlate with contributions within a particular discipline. How do you measure or define “peak” intellectual performance?
I found the author’s research sloopy and his conclusions rather too tidy.
Thanks, tsunamisurfer.
Here is a quote from Jacob Bronowski on the subject-
http://www.synearth.net/UCS2f/UCS2-07.html
“It is rather surprising to reflect that Max Born was almost forty when he was appointed. By enlarge<sic>, physicists have done their best work before they are thirty (mathematicians even early<sic>, biologists perhaps a little later).”
Is this accurate?