Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): Medium (Personal)

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/05/17

https://in-sightpublishing.com/books/

Acknowledgements

For Some Smart People: Views and Lives 1: Manahel Thabet for being the first in this series and giving a gauge on the feasibility of this project, and to Evangelos Katsioulis, Jason Betts, Marco Ripà, Paul Cooijmans, Rick Rosner; in spite of far more men in these communities, it, interview wise, started with a woman, even the Leo Jung Mensa article arose from the generosity of a woman friend, Jade.

For Some Smart People: Views and Lives 2: Claus Volko, Deb Stone, Erik Haereid, Hasan Zuberi, Ivan Ivec, Kirk Kirkpatrick, Monika Orski, and Rick Rosner.

For Some Smart People: Views and Lives 3: Andreas Gunnarsson, Anja Jaenicke, Christian Sorensen, Claus Volko, Dionysios Maroudas, Florian Schröder, Ronald K. Hoeflin, Erik Hae reid, Giuseppe Corrente, Graham Powell, Guillermo Alejandro Escárcega Pliego, HanKyung Lee, James Gordon, Kirk Kirkpatrick, Krystal Volney, Laurent Dubois, Marco Ripà, Matthew Scillitani, Mislav Predavec, Owen Cosby, Richard Sheen, Rick Farrar, Rick Rosner, Sandra Schlick, Tiberiu Sammak, Tim Roberts, Thomas Wolf, Tom Chittenden, Tonny Sellén, Tor Jørgensen.

For Some Smart People: Views and Lives 4: Björn Liljeqvist, Christian Sorenson, Claus Volko, Dionysios Maroudas, Sandra Schlick, Erik Haereid, Giuseppe Corrente, Guillermo Alejandro Escárcega Pliego, HanKyung Lee, James Gordon, Justin Duplantis, Kirk Kirkpatrick, Laurent Dubois, Marco Ripà, Matthew Scillitani, Mislav Predavec, Richard Sheen, Rick Farrar, Rick G. Rosner, Thomas Wolf, Tiberiu Sammak, Tim Roberts, Tom Chittenden, Tonny Sellén, and Tor Arne Jørgensen.

For Some Smart People: Views and Lives 5: Anthony Sepulveda, Christian Sorenson, Claus Volko, Dionysios Maroudas, Erik Haereid, Giuseppe Corrente, Guillermo Alejandro Escárcega Pliego, Heinrich Siemens, Hindemburg Melão Jr., Jason Robert, Julien Garrett Arpin, Justin Du plantis, Marios Sophia Prodromou, Matthew Scillitani, Mhedi Banafshei, Rick Rosner, Tiberiu Sammak, Tor Arne Jørgensen, and Veronica Palladino.

For Some Smart People: Views and Lives 6: Anas El-Husseini, Andrew Watters, Anthony Sepul veda, Arturo Escorza Pedraza, Beatrice Rescazzi, Bob Williams, Byunghyun Ban (반병현), Cas per Tvede Busk, Charles Peden, Craig Shelton, Christian Sorensen, Claus Volko, Erik Haereid, Giuseppe Corrente, Justin Duplantis, Krystal Volney, Mhedi Banafshei, Paul Cooijmans, Rich ard May (“May-Tzu”/”MayTzu”/”Mayzi”), Richard Sheen, Shalom Dickson, Thor Fabian Petter sen, Tiberiu Sammak, Tim Roberts, Tor Arne Jørgensen, and Anonymous Canadian High-IQ Community Member.

For Some Smart People: Views and Lives 7: Anas El Husseini, Aníbal Sánchez Numa, Anthony Sepulveda (Brown), Anja Jaenicke, Beatrice Rescazzi, Bîrlea Cristian, Bob Williams, Christian Sorensen, Clelia Albano, Eivind Olsen, Erik Haereid, Gernot Feichter, Giuseppe Corrente, Glia Society Member #479, Graham Powell, Hakan E. Kayioglu, Heinrich Siemens, Justin Duplantis, Kishan Harrysingh, Kirk Kirkpatrick, Marios Prodromou, Mhedi Banafshei, Mohammed Karim Benazzi Jabri, Monika Orski, Richard May (“May-Tzu”/”MayTzu”/”Mayzi”), Sandra Schlick, Tiberiu Nicolas Sammak, and Tor Arne Jørgensen.

For Some Smart People: Views and Lives 8: Anthony Sepulveda, Anja Jaenicke, Antjuan Finch, Benoit Desjardins, Bishoy Goubran, Bob Williams, Charles Peden, Chris Cole, Christopher Har ding, Christian Sorensen, Daniel Shea, Dong Geon Lee, Eivind Olsen, Entemake Aman (阿曼), Erik Haereid, Gareth Rees, Gary Whitehall, Glenn Alden, Jiwhan (Jason) Park, Luca Fiorani, Masaaki Yamauchi, Masaaki Yamauchi, Matthew Scillitani, Michael Isom, Olav Hoel Dørum, Paul Cooijmans, Richard May, Rick Rosner, Rickard Sagirbay, Shalom Dickson, Sudarshan Murthy, Svein Olav Glesaaen Nyberg, Tim Roberts, and Tor Arne Jørgensen.

For Some Smart People: Views and Lives 9: Anthony Sepulveda (Brown), Antjuan Finch, Benoit Desjardins, Bob Williams, Christopher Angus, Clelia Albano, Craig Shelton, Daniel Hilton, Donald Wayne Stoner, Dong Geon Lee, Dr. Benoit Desjardins, Eivind Olsen, Erik Haereid, Gareth Rees, Hiroshi Murasaki, LaRae Bakerink, Luca Fiorani, Michael Baker, Paul Cooijmans, Ricardo Rosselló Nevares, Richard May (“May-Tzu”/”MayTzu”/”Mayzi”), Rick Rosner, Simon Olling Rebsdorf, Sudarshan Murthy, Tor Arne Jørgensen, and Uwe Michael Neumann.

For Some Smart People: Views and Lives 10: Anthony Sepulveda (Brown), Bob Williams, Chris Cole, Entemake Aman (阿曼), Erik Haereid, Eivind Olsen, Gernot Feichter, Graham Powell, Harry Royalster, Iakovos Koukas, Larae Bakerink, Paul Cooijmans, Richard May (“May Tzu”/”MayTzu”/”Mayzi”), Rick Rosner, Scott Durgin, Tor Arne Jørgensen, and Uwe Michael Neumann.

For Some Smart People: Views and Lives 11: Brandon Feick, Chris Cole, David Miller, Dr. Be noit Desjardins, M.D., Ph.D., Dr. Ricardo Rosselló Nevares, Entemake Aman (阿曼), Hindem burg Melão Jr., Justin Duplantis, Kate Jones, Masaaki Yamauchi, Matthew Scillitani, Michael Isom, Richard May (“May-Tzu”/”MayTzu”/”Mayzi”), Rick Rosner, Tianxi Yu (余天曦), Tomáš Perna, Tor Arne Jørgensen, Uwe Michael Neumann, and Veronica Palladino.

For Some Smart People: Views and Lives 12: AntJuan Finch, Beatrice Rscazzi, Bob Williams, Claus Volko, M.D., Clelia Albano, Craft Xia, David Udbjørg, Entemake Aman (阿曼), Erik Haereid, M.Sc., Fengzhi Wu (邬冯值), Garth Zietsman, Hindemburg Melão Jr., Justin Duplantis, LaRae Bakerink, Luis Ortiz, Matthew Scillitani, Nozomu Wakai, Olav Hoel Dørum, Rick Ros ner, Scott Durgin, Simon Olling Rebsdorf, Tianxi Yu (余天曦), Tim Roberts, Tor Arne Jørgen sen, Veronica Palladino, M.D., Victor Hingsberg.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Foreword by ‘Dott.ssa in Ort. e Oft.,’ Beatrice Rescazzi (Are We Ready for the Age of Humanoid Robots?)

As a technology enthusiast, I often find myself reflecting on how we use it most appropriately and questioning its future development, particularly regarding its impact on humanity. It’s not uncommon to come across footage from over a century ago that celebrated electricity as a marvel capable of freeing us from household drudgery through the introduction of electrically powered machinery.

Similarly, factory automation was expected to ease the workload. Yet, in many cases, it ended up intensifying pressure on the remaining workers, who were forced to operate at increasingly rapid paces to maintain high productivity levels. In agriculture, mechanization promised to relieve farmers of physical labor. However, reality proved different: small farms, unable to compete with larger enterprises that could afford such machinery, suffered a drastic decline, leaving the few remaining farmers to work longer hours to sustain their operations economically.

With the spread of personal computers in the 1980s and 1990s, a similar revolution was anticipated: PCs would automate repetitive tasks such as typing, document management, and filing, enabling workers to focus on more creative and valuable duties. But the efficiency brought by computers raised productivity expectations. Tasks that once took hours now had to be completed in minutes, often without reducing the overall workload but rather increasing it. This phenomenon, known as the “acceleration of work,” pushed employees to do more in less time.

Meanwhile, the complexity of work grew: employees had to acquire new technical skills, learn to use advanced software, and manage an ever-increasing volume of data and digital communications. Technological stress became a daily companion, fueled by unreliable IT systems and the need for continuous learning.

The advent of email normalized constant availability, creating a culture of perpetual accessibility that blurred the boundaries between personal and professional life. Despite automation, many low-level administrative roles were eliminated, generating a form of technological unemployment. This meant that remaining workers had to take on additional tasks, leaving the promised liberation of time unfulfilled.

When computers became portable and eventually pocket-sized as smartphones, they were hailed as tools to manage time more efficiently anywhere. Yet, real-world experience tells a different story: an overload of inputs leading to difficulty discerning news from misinformation, incessant notifications, digital distractions, and a steady erosion of privacy. Our attention is fragmented, productivity threatened, and stress heightened. This was not the promise.

Smartphones have made us even more reachable, erasing the boundaries between work and personal life. The consequences of constant device use are tangible: sleep disorders, posture problems, and increased psychological issues tied to excessive social media use. While promised as tools for connection, they have often diminished the quality of human interactions, replacing face-to-face dialogue with superficial virtual connections.

Today, we stand at the dawn of a new technological revolution, driven by humanoid robots and advanced artificial intelligence. Once again, we hear promises of liberation from work and a better society. Yet, this familiar narrative leaves me skeptical — not out of nostalgia for an idealized past but because I am aware of both the potential and the risks of these technologies. Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, admitted to preferring an old phone without internet connectivity, despite being one of the foremost figures in technological innovation. Like him, many tech gurus distance themselves from their own technological creations once they become products. This paradox speaks volumes: the issue is not the technology itself but its ethical and social implications.

Technology advances faster than our ability to adapt social, political, and ethical institutions. AI and humanoid robots promise extraordinary capabilities but lack ethical oversight to guide their integration into a society vulnerable to power abuses.

Looking to the future, the prospect of humanoid robots with general artificial intelligence raises even more complex questions. When these machines can replace humans in a wide range of jobs — both manual and intellectual — will governments and corporations remember the promises of a society freed from work? Or will profit continue to take precedence over human well-being? Imagine, for instance, a self-driving car: will the company program its AI to prioritize saving its passenger or the occupant of a competitor’s vehicle in the event of a collision? Will your child’s robot teacher promote a particular ideology or suggest costly software upgrades to benefit its manufacturing company? And what will happen to companies that, having the option to replace all workers with machines, feel no responsibility toward the displaced workforce?

A chilling vision of such a future is evoked in Isaac Asimov’s novel The Caves of Steel, which I read as a child. Set in sealed megacities where tensions between humans and robots are central, the book explores not only the limits of technology but also the profound ethical and psychologi

cal implications of its integration into society. Asimov anticipated a question that is more relevant today than ever: what does it mean for humanity to lose the “economic value” derived from work? Imagine a society where people have lost their sense of purpose, the identity provided by their professions, and their economic livelihood. How can we protect human dignity and value in a world where human labor is no longer needed?

An automated society cannot simply replicate current economic and social systems. It requires new ways of distributing wealth, a rethinking of the role of work, and a redefinition of human dignity that goes beyond economic contribution. These challenges cannot be addressed with simplistic solutions; they demand systemic ethical responses, new laws, and robust regulations. The true risk of artificial intelligence does not lie in the machines themselves but in the immense power they grant to those who control them. And when that power is wielded by individuals devoid of moral principles, the consequences could be devastating for all of humanity.

Foreword by LaRae Bakerink

It has been an uplifting experience to be able to talk about what it is like having a higher IQ than most. It isn’t always fun or glamorous. Letting people know that having a high IQ doesn’t mean you are a genius, it means that you figure things out a little faster than others. It means you may

see an incongruity that others don’t see. It makes you different, not better or worse. Sometimes we look at the world differently and that is what can bring out the best in us.

Each interview provides us with that insight about each other and I’m glad we are talking about such things. There are a variety of ways to be smart and they aren’t always understood. Talking about it allows us to show others what it really means.

The understanding that can come from learning about the different types of being smart can help us relate to each other. I find that idea intriguing and appealing.

Foreword by Tor Arne Jørgensen

First and foremost, I extend my hand in humble thanks for the opportunity to contribute to the launch of “Some Smart People: Views and Lives 12.” A thousand thanks to Scott Jacobsen for his tireless work and the high quality of everything he delivers. It’s incredible what capacity this man possesses!

During these Christmas times, surrounded by what is for me, and I’m sure for many others, an incredibly dark period, moments like these awaken the desire to share some deeper thoughts. When darkness is at its most dominant, one feels increasingly weighed down by loneliness. To be surrounded by friends and family — those inextinguishable lights that do their best to chase away this all-consuming despair, preventing it from dragging you under completely — what would one do without these pillars of support when darkness takes hold?

Call it what you will, but this is a thank you to those who offer a hand to hold when you need it most.

My introduction here stems from my daily profession as a teacher. Here we see how seasons af fect mood as the year progresses. Light and darkness influence all of our minds, especially when holidays come into play. Friends travel away, schools close, and for many students, the only arena where friendly bonds are strengthened is taken away. Now that darkness has returned, far too many find themselves inside, absorbed in various games, social media, and more. Direct contact is largely absent.

I want to take this opportunity to send good thoughts to all those who are alone during the holi days, both big and small. I hope many will do the same, because we all need someone who thinks of us when everyday life is intensified by these times of joy. I particularly want to emphasize that for those with higher brain activity who already experience loneliness to a significant extent, it is especially important to think of them and, if you can, send some kind words their way.

Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to say a few words, Scott!

Foreword by Simon Olling Rebsdorf, PhD, MSc, Author, Journalist, & President of the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry

It is both an honor and a privilege to contribute this foreword to Some Smart People, an insightful publication that gathers voices from diverse intellectual landscapes. Having previously been interviewed in these pages, I find it meaningful to return, this time offering reflections that bridge my personal journey with my role as President of the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry (ISPE).

ISPE is a community defined not solely by high intelligence but by the profound curiosity and philosophical inquiry that drive our members. In a world increasingly saturated with fleeting information and rapid conclusions, the ability to engage in deep, reflective thinking has become both rare and invaluable. Some Smart People embodies this spirit, providing a platform where thoughtfulness transcends the superficial, inviting readers to consider, question, and connect.

What stands out in this edition is the thoughtful exploration of themes that resonate deeply with me:

1. Intelligence, AI, and the Future — The nuanced discussions by Hindemburg Melão Jr. and Tor Arne Jørgensen on how artificial intelligence challenges and redefines our understanding of human intellect are both timely and provocative. As we at ISPE grapple with the integrity of intelligence assessments in an AI-driven era, these reflections feel particularly relevant. Yet, I can’t help but wonder if we sometimes overestimate AI’s capacity while underestimating the complexity of human cognition itself. Perhaps, in our rush to define the future, we overlook the depth of what it means to be human.

2. Philosophy and the Meaning of Life — The philosophical essays by Olav Hoel Dørum are not abstract musings but grounded explorations of human purpose, existence, and the search for meaning. They echo ISPE’s commitment to intellectual rigor combined with existential inquiry. This also aligns closely with my own work in philosophy, where I explore how existential questions shape not only personal identity but also collective values in times marked by rapid societal change and growing climate anxiety. Still, there’s a risk that such explorations can become self-referential, circling the same questions without engaging with the ur gent ethical demands of our time.

3. Education and Intellectual Development — Critical reflections from Tor Arne Jørgensen, Justin Duplantis, and Matthew Scillitani challenge us to rethink how we cultivate analytical and creative capacities in future generations. This resonates with my own engagement in educational philosophy, particularly concerning motivation and the psychological factors that influence learning in an era where young minds increasingly grapple with existential concerns, such as climate change. But I also find myself questioning whether our educational ideals genuinely prepare students for the complexity of the real world or if we’re merely polishing old paradigms with new rhetoric.

4. Creativity, Divergent Intelligence, and Neurodiversity — The celebration of neurodiversity and alternative expressions of intelligence, particularly explored by Bob Williams, reminds us that brilliance isn’t confined to traditional metrics. It’s a powerful affirmation of ISPE’s ethos: that true insight often emerges from unexpected perspectives. However, in celebrating neurodiversity, we must be cautious not to romanticize it in ways that gloss over the real challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in systems that still privilege conformity.

Reflecting on the interviews and essays in this edition, I am reminded that intellectual brilliance is not just a measure of cognitive ability but a testament to the human spirit’s resilience, creativity, and ethical depth. Intelligence, when coupled with wisdom and compassion, becomes a force capable of transforming not just individual lives but entire communities.

This publication reminds me how knowledge is not an end in itself. It is a bridge-between disciplines, between cultures, and most importantly, between people. It invites us to step beyond the boundaries of what we know, to explore the unknown with both humility and courage.

I hope that as you turn these pages, you find not just smart people, but thoughtful souls whose ideas inspire, challenge, and perhaps even change the way you see the world. After all, true intelligence is not about having all the answers, but about asking the questions that matter-those quiet, persistent ones that stay with you even after the conversation has moved on.

Enjoy the journey!

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