Note: I’m not sure if I have a core point, but I did find this thought provoking and wanted to post what I had worked out so far.
Based on the Wikipedia page about Iodine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodine_deficiency , it sounds like figuring out a way to distribute Iodine to everyone better so that noone experiences an Iodine deficiency in childhood would be an example of a non eugenics method to raise IQ. Although I suppose that implies the problem is not “The technology to solve this problem doesn’t exist.” but “The technology to solve this problem isn’t getting to everyone who would benefit from it.” And that can be the case with other transformative technologies that Stuart_Armstrong mentioned. Some areas don’t have access to vaccines, some areas do have access to vaccines but are opposed to them, some people do not let women in their area use some contraceptive methods...etc.
I guess a way to describe the problem is that “How do we get everyone in the world access to the technological developments that we have already generated?” has several cases which are not a low hanging fruit. Even If I came up with a new nanopill that provided intellectual benefits similar to resolving an childhood Iodine deficiency, that could be stacked on top of it for even more gains, I’d still have to find a way of getting that nanopill to everyone, but that would be the same kind of problem I would face getting Iodine tablets, Iodine rich food, or even Iodized salt to everyone.
Note: I’m not sure if I have a core point, but I did find this thought provoking and wanted to post what I had worked out so far.
Based on the Wikipedia page about Iodine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodine_deficiency , it sounds like figuring out a way to distribute Iodine to everyone better so that noone experiences an Iodine deficiency in childhood would be an example of a non eugenics method to raise IQ. Although I suppose that implies the problem is not “The technology to solve this problem doesn’t exist.” but “The technology to solve this problem isn’t getting to everyone who would benefit from it.” And that can be the case with other transformative technologies that Stuart_Armstrong mentioned. Some areas don’t have access to vaccines, some areas do have access to vaccines but are opposed to them, some people do not let women in their area use some contraceptive methods...etc.
I guess a way to describe the problem is that “How do we get everyone in the world access to the technological developments that we have already generated?” has several cases which are not a low hanging fruit. Even If I came up with a new nanopill that provided intellectual benefits similar to resolving an childhood Iodine deficiency, that could be stacked on top of it for even more gains, I’d still have to find a way of getting that nanopill to everyone, but that would be the same kind of problem I would face getting Iodine tablets, Iodine rich food, or even Iodized salt to everyone.