INTELLIGENT PEOPLE WHO STARTED IN 1930 and a detour through politics including Bolsonaro and Trump

Versão em português https://www.lcsalles.com/post/gente-inteligente-que-se-destacou-a-partir-de-1930-e-um-desvio-pela-política-incluindo-bolsonaro-e-t-1

From 1930 onwards, who were some of the most intelligent human beings, with specific details in which area they were very intelligent (or not...)

ChatGPT said:

Here's a list of some of the smartest people since 1930, along with their areas of brilliance:

Science and Mathematics

• John von Neumann (1903-1957) - Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science

  • He contributed to game theory, quantum mechanics and the architecture of modern computers.

• Richard Feynman (1918-1988) - Physics

  • He developed quantum electrodynamics and was a key figure in the Manhattan Project. Also known for his extraordinary ability to solve problems.

• Claude Shannon (1916-2001) - Information theory

  • He created the mathematical basis of digital communication and is essentially the father of modern telecommunications.

• Alan Turing (1912-1954) - Computer Science, Cryptography

  • He broke the German Enigma code in World War II and laid the foundations for modern computing and AI.

• Terence Tao (1975- ) - Mathematics

  • A child prodigy who became a world-class mathematician, specializing in number theory and harmonic analysis.

Technology and AI

• Marvin Minsky (1927-2016) - Artificial Intelligence

  • One of the pioneers of AI and cognitive science.

• Geoffrey Hinton (1947- ) - Machine learning

  • A key figure behind deep learning and neural networks, laying the foundations for modern AI.

Philosophy and Cognitive Science

• Noam Chomsky (1928- ) - Linguistics, Cognitive Science

  • He revolutionized linguistics and the understanding of human language with his theory of generative grammar.

• Daniel Kahneman (1934- ) - Psychology, Behavioral Economics

  • He developed Prospect Theory, explaining how people make irrational economic decisions.

Business and economy

• John Nash (1928-2015) - Mathematics, Economics

  • He developed game theory, which transformed economics, politics and strategy.

• Elon Musk (1971- ) - Engineering, Business

  • Although sometimes controversial, its ability to push technological boundaries in space travel, electric cars and AI is undeniable.

Arts and literature

• Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) - Literature

  • His writings explored infinite loops, paradoxes and the nature of intelligence itself.

• Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999) - Cinema

  • A meticulous genius who redefined cinematic narrative and visual aesthetics.

Some of these minds were conventionally intelligent (high IQ, technical ability), while others had unique forms of intelligence - creativity, intuition or the ability to predict trends and disruptions.

Who would you add to the list?

4o

You said:

What does it mean to be intelligent in politics?

ChatGPT said:

Being smart in politics and smart in policy involve different but overlapping skill sets:

Intelligence in politics

It's about navigating power, influence and public perception. It includes:

• Strategic thinking - Knowing when to act, when to wait and how to gain an advantage.

• Persuasion and communication - Influencing public opinion, negotiating and structuring narratives.

• Adaptability - Changing position without losing credibility.

• Understanding power structures - knowing how institutions, alliances and rivalries work.

• Emotional intelligence - Reading people, predicting behavior and maintaining control in crises.

• Survival skills - Staying relevant and avoiding political fallout.

Example: Franklin D. Roosevelt (US president) - Master of political strategy, coalition building and crisis leadership.

Policy intelligence

It's about designing and implementing effective solutions to social problems. Includes:

• Problem-solving skills - identifying problems and developing solutions based on data and logic.

• Economic and social knowledge - Understanding how laws and policies affect growth, stability and well-being.

• Long-term vision - Creating policies that last beyond electoral cycles.

• Ethical judgment - Balancing short-term political pressures with long-term social good.

• Implementation skills - Making policies work in practice, not just on paper.

• Analytical thinking - Use of evidence, research and logic rather than ideology or populism.

Example: Lee Kuan Yew (leader of Singapore) - Focused on long-term policy success, transforming Singapore into a global economic powerhouse.

The difference?

• A smart politician can win elections and power even with weak policies.

• A smart policymaker can create good governance, but may not be able to get political support.

• The best leaders combine both: they sell good policies AND stay in power long enough to implement them.

Who do you think got the balance right?

You said:

In which group are Trump, Bolsonaro and Lula?

ChatGPT said:

Trump, Bolsonaro and Lula are all politically intelligent, but their political intelligence is more debatable. See how they fit into the two categories:

Donald Trump (USA)

✅ Political intelligence: Very high

• Master of populist messages and mobilizing his base.

• His media manipulation skills are second to none - he dominates the news cycle.

• He understood the voters' frustration and took advantage of nationalism and economic anxiety.

• He overcame the Republican establishment in 2016 and continues to be a kingmaker.

❌ Policy intelligence: Weak

• It focused more on slogans than on structured policies ("Build the Wall", "America First").

• He implemented some business-friendly policies (tax cuts, deregulation), but lacked a cohesive long-term vision.

• It struggled with governance - constant staff turnover and chaotic decision-making.

Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil)

✅ Political intelligence: High

• It has built a strong right-wing identity, bringing together conservatives and evangelicals.

• It used social media effectively to bypass traditional media.

• His anti-establishment appeal made him the "outsider", despite decades in politics.

❌ Policy intelligence: Weak

• It had no clear economic or social policy structure - it relied on advisors.

• It has mismanaged the crises, especially during COVID-19.

• It focused more on culture wars than structural reforms.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil)

✅ Political intelligence: Extremely high

• Charismatic and persuasive, able to unite different political factions.

• He survived several political crises, including imprisonment, and had a great comeback.

• He has mastered the art of negotiation and alliances, balancing leftist ideals with pragmatic politics.

✅ Policy intelligence: Strong

• Expansion of social programs (Bolsa Família) while maintaining economic stability.

• He worked well with the markets, balancing pro-poor policies with business-friendly measures.

• He left a strong economic legacy in his first presidency, but faced corruption scandals (which damaged his credibility).

Final verdict

• Trump and Bolsonaro - great at politics, weak at policy.

• Lula - Strong in both politics and policy, although with ethical and governance problems.

What is your opinion? Would you put them in a different position?

You said:

For me, Bolsonaro is weak in INTELLIGENCE. The so-called coup attributed to him was nothing more than a very badly planned "revolt", a total failure and with its leader flying to the USA instead of leading his group.

ChatGPT said:

I understand your point of view. Bolsonaro's handling of the so-called "coup attempt" was indeed incoherent and poorly executed, which suggests poor strategic intelligence. A real political mentor would have done that:

1.  Planned properly - If he really wanted to take power, he would have secured institutional support (military, judiciary, elite support). Instead, it was chaotic and amateurish.

2.  He led from the front - Fleeing to the US instead of staying and guiding his supporters showed a lack of leadership in the crisis.

3.  It had a clear objective - there was no real plan apart from vague calls for military intervention, which was unrealistic.

His political intelligence worked before he was elected (using social media, stirring up conservative sentiment), but once in power he lacked strategy and governance skills. Even his closest allies often seemed confused by his decisions.

So, would you say that Bolsonaro just got lucky in 2018, riding the anti-PT wave, rather than being politically savvy?

4o

You said:

Luck was certainly an important factor

ChatGPT said:

I agree - Bolsonaro benefited from a perfect storm in 2018, not pure political skill. His rise was a mixture of:

✔ Anti-PT sentiment - After the Lava Jato scandals, many Brazilians wanted to punish the Workers' Party (PT).✔ Public frustration - High crime rates, economic stagnation and corruption scandals created demand for an "outsider".✔ Power of social media - He ignored the traditional media and used WhatsApp and Facebook effectively.✔ The stabbing incident - This turned him into a "martyr", kept him away from debates (where he could have been exposed) and created sympathy.

Once in office, his lack of strategic intelligence became clear. He alienated allies, mismanaged crises and had no coherent economic or social policy.

On the other hand, someone like Lula (whether you like him or not) built coalitions, worked with institutions and played the political game much more skillfully.

Would you say that Bolsonaro's fall was inevitable due to his own limitations? Or could he have avoided it with a better strategy?