Photo credit: www.yahoo.com
Seth Abramson Critiques Elon Musk’s Intellectual Reputation
Seth Abramson, an attorney and journalist known for his biography on Elon Musk, recently took to social media to challenge the narrative surrounding Musk’s intellectual capabilities. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Abramson sharply criticized Musk and his supporters, asserting that many of them were blinded by a cult-like devotion. He emphasized that, in his analysis, Musk lacks *personal* intellectual achievements.
In his tweets, Abramson estimated Musk’s IQ to be between 100 and 110. According to him, there is no credible evidence in Musk’s life history to suggest a higher IQ. “I want to emphasize this point: There’s zero evidence of Musk having anything above a 110 IQ,” he stated, reiterating his stance to clarify any potential misunderstandings.
After stepping away from the platform, Abramson returned to find his comments had gained significant traction, particularly within certain right-wing communities. He acknowledged that the discourse around Musk often invokes the 19th-century Great Man Theory of history, which attributes major historical changes to the actions of a few influential individuals.
Abramson proceeded to dissect Musk’s career, recounting how Musk was involved in various controversies and failures. He pointed out that Musk had been sued for allegedly stealing the concept behind his first company, Zip2, which he co-founded with his brother. According to Abramson, Musk was subsequently removed from the company shortly after investors became involved. Similarly, he faced dismissal from PayPal after its merger with his company.
While Musk is often credited with the success of Tesla, Abramson claimed Musk’s actual role involved significant mismanagement after acquiring equity in the company. The initial investment that Musk made in Tesla occurred during a tumultuous period for the automaker, and according to Abramson, his leadership did not instill confidence among stakeholders.
Moreover, Abramson pointed out that Musk’s most successful endeavor, SpaceX, significantly benefited from lobbying efforts towards the U.S. government, particularly highlighting favorable relations established through former President Obama. Abramson did not shy away from labeling Musk’s other ventures, such as The Boring Company and Neuralink, as failures or ethically questionable, respectively. He claimed that The Boring Company’s most notable product, a flamethrower, was devoid of practical utility.
Abramson continued to challenge Musk’s influence on notable platforms, stating that his management had deleterious effects on Twitter, a platform that has experienced significant turmoil since Musk’s acquisition. “Business schools will teach how he ran this platform into the ground,” he asserted.
He also addressed perceptions surrounding wealth and intelligence, arguing that it is a prevalent misconception in American culture to equate monetary success with intellectual capability. “Wealth does not equal wisdom, and many outside the U.S. would find this discourse laughable,” he stated, reinforcing his argument against the unwarranted glorification of Musk’s achievements.
While Abramson acknowledged that he does not value IQ as a reliable measure of one’s abilities, he pointed out that supporters of Musk often cite it as evidence of his intelligence without presenting any substantial proof of IQ tests. His detailed critique can be examined on his X account.
In summary, Seth Abramson’s comments represent a counter-narrative to the widespread perception of Elon Musk as a visionary genius, introducing a critical dialogue regarding the nature of achievement and the factors that contribute to public success.
Source
www.yahoo.com