Does man rise only to the level of his individual intelligence, or is luck a fac

1. 62

   Perspycaciousposted 11 years ago

   Does man rise only to the level of his individual intelligence, or is luck a factor?
   
   Birthrights?  Favorable circumstances?  Nationality?  What is it that most determines man's mortal circumstances?  As the expansion of the universe speeds its outer reaches away from us, what is at the root of the growing distance separating rich from poor?  It is nothing new, but what is it?

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2. 53

   whonunuwhoposted 11 years ago

   I would have to say that mankind makes his on luck, good or bad. We were given the ability to develop our own technology, cultures, and if we muff it, it is on us. Our Creator provided us with the intelligence and skills, over time, to go far, and we have the responsibility to see it through, and with positive striving, we shall.

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3. 90

   peoplepower73posted 11 years ago

   If you could define the root cause of what makes a person rich or poor, it would vary with each individual. I think you are trying to quantify something that has many facets and is dependent on each individuals circumstances. There is no one thing that determines man's mortal circumstances.
   
   A person could work in a mailroom and have a vison of one day becoming the CEO of that company and because of some circumstances that are unique to that person, it actually happens.  Another person could work in the same mailroom and end up staying there for the rest of his or her life because of their unique circustances, but it would be very difficult to say one factor caused either situation.
   
   They say there is no such thing as luck, it's preparation meeting opportunity.

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4. 68

   Volitansposted 11 years ago

   Some of it is luck. Some of it is institutional. And some of it is dependent upon the individual's drive and intelligence. For example, take Bill Gates. Some of his success is because he had the intelligence to start and run Microsoft. However, what most people don't know about Gates is that his father was a wealthy, successful, and well-connected lawyer. His father's connections, along with Gates' own abilities, got him into Harvard, where he was able to learn what he needed and make the connections necessary for the success of Microsoft. Because of his father's resources and the prestige of Harvard, he was able to get the funding to get Microsoft started.
   
   Success is a complex phenomena and anyone who tries to attribute their success to any one element is either lying or deluded.

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5. 74

   cynthtggtposted 11 years ago

   Luck only gets us so far.  One might walk through one open door only to be challenged beyond his or her capacity.  In that instance, one of two things happens:  !) He or she either rises to the task by going outside the sphere to research, ask questions, or ponder some great and wonderful existential equation to solve the problem or meet the task at hand - and take a great risk or leap of faith and be wrong, or 2) he or she - with no confidence to think independently, with no confidence to go outside the sphere, might simply give up or get angry, or simply be afraid to say "I don't know."   Circumstances are shaped by one's ability to test the fire and fail, by risk, by thinking outside the box, but, above all, having some level of inner composure, competence or confidence to succeed.  Unfortunately, however, today all of these great attributes are becoming less needed, as most persons who possess these talents are being kept out of work force.  Exceptionalism is no longer appreciated.  All one has to do is be "ACCEPTED" and they should do just fine.  For all those who are exceptional, they will have to be immensly creative, over-the-top intelligent or just plain thick-skinned to endure.  Fellow co-workers, for example (I'm a secretary) want a new secretary to make a lot of mistakes.  The more mistakes initially made, the more they will like the new secretary and the consensus of other secretaries matters more than the bosses.  Yup, exceptionalism today is gone from the American landscape because it is hated - except in the Olympics, which I cannot wait to see.  Funny how exceptionalism is accepted in the Olympics but hated everywhere else.

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6. 89

   NateB11posted 11 years ago

   Intelligence is a matter of perceptiveness, which is a matter of not having barriers and conditioning that cloud clear, direct perception; the divisions of class, the poverty, the disparity of rich and poor, are a product of the conditioning and barriers, the divisions which have psychological origin; this conditioning is a shared consciousness. When that is gone, there will be an end to the disparity.

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7. 75

   NC4Life078posted 11 years ago

   PeoplePower73 answered great with the following:
   
   "If you could define the root cause of what makes a person rich or poor, it would vary with each individual. I think you are trying to quantify something that has many facets and is dependent on each individuals circumstances. There is no one thing that determines man's mortal circumstances."
   
   The book "Outliars" by Malcolm Gladwell goes into just this. How do those in successful positions get there. What is intriguing is that a lot of it doesn't have to do with the individual, but, more so their circumstance. "Outliars" goes into Bill Gates's success as well as many others. But, to some things up there are many people just as smart as Bill Gates or just as "beautiful" as Kim Kardashian. Yet, they are famous because of the things that happened in their life, unlike the others who are smart and "beautiful".
   
   Infact, another contribution of this is simply "What month you are born" (also covered in "Outliars"). We would all like to think the underdog raised from nothing, but, in the end they had help to reach that position, even something as simple as the month they were born.
   
   *This is why I dislike many celebrities and models that believe they are Gods gift to the world, when they simply have been -blessed- with a talent. Yes, they may have put in many hours of work to get there. But, based on the theory presented by "Outliars" they had help to get there, even something as simple as genetics.

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      NC4Life078posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Take Justin Bieber as an example. Yes, he may have incredible talent (matter of opinion) but, he just happened to be found by Usher on Youtube. What seperates him from any other child posting videos on Youtube? Nothing but an individual circumstance.

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8. 78

   g-girl11posted 11 years ago

   I think this is a great question and I am intrigued by all the answers.  I think a lot of it has to do with what you believe.  I wonder if it's not so much luck, but a matter of real belief that good things can/should happen to you?  A rich person just keeps expecting to be rich--but people who win the lottery often end up losing it all.  Plus it seems all answers equate luck with money.  A person could be rich, but "unlucky" in love or health.

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9. 81

   dghbrhposted 11 years ago

   Man rise to where he wants to go. Its the level of his aspiration and will power. Then the focus also counts. As per individual intelligence a man aspires to reach the goal and then his complete focus helps top cross the road.
   Birthright is a fortunate condition but cant alone take a man where he wants to be. He needs proper attitude and mental ability as well.
   Favorable circumstances are blessings but one needs the mental hunger to reach high in life.
   Nationality cant be a reason for a man to rise high in life.
   Mortal circumstances of a man depends on the conscious effort of the man himself to reach high in life and to complete the purpose of this life.
   The growing distance from rich to poor is the result of lack of proper and systematic channeling of available resources. The power is not distributed with proper focus for distribution of wealth and corruption is major cause of growing distance between rich and poor people.
   Good question.

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10. 69

    connorjposted 11 years ago

    Absolutely no with regards to the first part and yes luck is a factor; however, one could debate that it is both, indeed significant and insignificant.

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