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by sokoloff 844 days ago
I disagree with the last paragraph. If there are four factors that all combine to create an outcome, we don’t ignore factor 1 just because factors 2-4 can nullify any advantage.

My garden grows based on light, CO2, macro nutrients, and water. We don’t say “CO2 is not a factor in plant growth because deficits in water, nutrients, and light can prevent it from showing in overall outcome.”

1 comments

but that depends on how large the factor actually is. if it were 10% or more, then sure. but the fact that the very existence of a genetic factor is put into question, suggests that the factor, if it exists, is so small that it really is negligible.

another reason why we can ignore a genetic factor is that we can not influence it. or, that trying to influence it carries serious ethical implications.

it is also to small to serve as a tool to predict future performance.

The existence of a genetic component is put into question by some, but by no means all.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritability_of_IQ