[thegoleffect]

I agree with you about PG's claim. Memorization might appear to depend on natural ability as much as success depending on intelligence. To me, PG's one statement there contradicts the rest of the essay.

As for creativity, reasoning, abstract mathematics, I don't think those have innate factors. If anything, the only thing stopping people from becoming exceptional in those fields is the belief that they cannot improve (== lack of determination).