Well, I did found a few studies on the topic, but would not call it having overwhelming evidence so you may be right.
I couldn’t make as good a job as the linked article, but what other explanation could you give on the very real difference between the racial composition of scientific geniuses vs the “average” people (define the former as you prefer)? Because one definition (number of Nobel prize winners) will definitely wake racist explanations. The article very clearly goes into several possible explanations, rejecting most of them.
It was not the particular school, nor the city, Jewish cultural heritage could have an effect but afaik not every Jewish Nobel prize winner held strictly onto religious traditions (though still, it is a standing possible explanation, especially with a strong view on the importance of education as culture doesn’t stop at religion). Being of higher class families definitely correlates with every sorts of success, but it is not specific to Jewish people.
So I’m still not bought on the environment-only explanation. Of course it is never only nature or nurture for complex situations, but a more “fertile ground” for studying will amplify other nurture effects as well.
I’m writing all these as a non-Jewish Hungarian though, so my thoughts are definitely not from nationalism or racism, but more from a form of awe (though I agree that positive discrimination/bias may also be problematic)
I couldn’t make as good a job as the linked article, but what other explanation could you give on the very real difference between the racial composition of scientific geniuses vs the “average” people (define the former as you prefer)? Because one definition (number of Nobel prize winners) will definitely wake racist explanations. The article very clearly goes into several possible explanations, rejecting most of them.
It was not the particular school, nor the city, Jewish cultural heritage could have an effect but afaik not every Jewish Nobel prize winner held strictly onto religious traditions (though still, it is a standing possible explanation, especially with a strong view on the importance of education as culture doesn’t stop at religion). Being of higher class families definitely correlates with every sorts of success, but it is not specific to Jewish people.
So I’m still not bought on the environment-only explanation. Of course it is never only nature or nurture for complex situations, but a more “fertile ground” for studying will amplify other nurture effects as well.
I’m writing all these as a non-Jewish Hungarian though, so my thoughts are definitely not from nationalism or racism, but more from a form of awe (though I agree that positive discrimination/bias may also be problematic)