LiegentAt Our Wits’ End
How did a civilisation that built Concorde and reached the Moon begin to lose the ability to match its own achievements? The short confronts this question by linking technological progress to long-term changes in intelligence. It follows how intelligence may have been shaped by selection, how it supported the rise of modern Europe, and how modern fertility patterns may now be reversing that process. Drawing on evidence from IQ trends, reaction times, and historical innovation, the authors’ work examines whether underlying cognitive ability is declining. The short then places these developments within a recurring pattern of civilisational rise and collapse. Readers gain a framework for understanding how intelligence may shape the future of advanced societies.
Edward Dutton is an anthropologist and researcher who has published works on topics related to intelligence, religion, and societal issues. He earned his PhD in religious studies from the University of Aberdeen and has held teaching positions at universities in the UK and Poland. Dutton's writings explore subjects surrounding human biodiversity and behavioral differences between populations.
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