Joseph Smith's intelligence

[alter idem]

18 hours ago, Meadowchik said:

That quote says she had little formal education.

Joseph Smith lived with and was taught at home by schoolteachers and his family did have books in the home and access to more.

I refer to different arguments because there are many different arguments. An extraordinary claim is predictably going to face a plethora of arguments of varying kind and intensity.

I don't see how one can equate Joseph Smith's educational upbringing with Mary Shelley's.  Yes, he had books in his house and he did have some teaching from school teachers, but I"m pretty sure Mary Shelley's was a broad, rich education, and she was raised by interesting and obviously intellectual parents who likely weren't struggling to feed their large family.  Maybe go back and read what he posted on her--a bit further than 'she had little formal education', because it went on to explain further how varied and excellent her educational upbringing was.  And I would expect that, her writing is excellent.

[mrmarklin]

11 hours ago, alter idem said:

I don't see how one can equate Joseph Smith's educational upbringing with Mary Shelley's.  Yes, he had books in his house and he did have some teaching from school teachers, but I"m pretty sure Mary Shelley's was a broad, rich education, and she was raised by interesting and obviously intellectual parents who likely weren't struggling to feed their large family.  Maybe go back and read what he posted on her--a bit further than 'she had little formal education', because it went on to explain further how varied and excellent her educational upbringing was.  And I would expect that, her writing is excellent.

People of Mary Shelley’s class were educated by tutors and governesses at home.   The education was classic, including great literature, languages etc., and can in no way be compared to the minimal education received by JS.  No, Shelley’s education was not formal. It was better than that. 

[Meadowchik]

On 12/19/2019 at 1:58 AM, alter idem said:

I don't see how one can equate Joseph Smith's educational upbringing with Mary Shelley's.  Yes, he had books in his house and he did have some teaching from school teachers, but I"m pretty sure Mary Shelley's was a broad, rich education, and she was raised by interesting and obviously intellectual parents who likely weren't struggling to feed their large family.  Maybe go back and read what he posted on her--a bit further than 'she had little formal education', because it went on to explain further how varied and excellent her educational upbringing was.  And I would expect that, her writing is excellent.

That's one problem with the parameter. Education quality can vary widely both within forms. 

In my opinion, her writing is vastly superior, in the poetic sense, but also in terms of deep philosophy that remains relevant over time, sociologically and spiritually.