Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-5xszh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T04:28:46.921Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Talent: Don't confuse necessity with sufficiency, or science with policy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 1998

Ellen Winner
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167 ellen.winner@bc.edu

Abstract

Howe et al. fail to provide evidence that practice is sufficient and ignore evidence of high ability before instruction. They unsuccessfully discount savants; provide weak evidence against heritability of music, criticize retrospective evidence selectively, using it when it supports their position; and ultimately both accept and deny talent. Finally, they conflate a scientific question with one of policy.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)