Holy f—ing sh-t: Charles Murray’s ‘Human Accomplishments’ database now online

Presumably, “the Tolstoy of the Zulus” remains undiscovered…

Steve Sailer reports:

One thing that occurs to me is that Murray’s dispassionate disinterestedness appeals mostly to people of a meta-statistical bent (i.e., me).

For example, his methodology says that two most eminent composers of Western music are Beethoven and Mozart in a close tie. My response is: that sounds about right, suggesting that his methodology passes this quick test of prima facie reasonableness. If it passes other tests of reasonableness, then it can be used to search for general patterns.

But reasonableness and general patterns are not very exciting. Many people would prefer an argument about why Beethoven could beat Mozart in a fight or vice-versa.