Are We Passing The Israel Test?
In this compelling and wide ranging episode of The Bill Walton Show, host Bill Walton engages with the great economic, technology and futurist thinker George Gilder to talk about his provocative book, The Israel Test.
In The Israel Test George provides much needed context for today’s war in the Middle East. His theory about the root causes of the conflict dramatically reframes the issues and makes it clear why we need to support Israel in this defining moment in History.
Despite comprising only 4% of the Middle East's land area, Israel has cultivated a preeminent high-tech economy, functioning as a liberal democracy with free elections, a critical press, and robust human rights protections—including for its 2 million Arab citizens, who enjoy the same civil liberties as Jewish citizens.
The Israel Test posits that one's reaction to others' success—whether through admiration and emulation or envy and hostility—reflects broader attitudes toward capitalism and free enterprise. Historical and contemporary instances of antisemitism, can be attributed in part to envy over Jewish excellence in so many fields and Israel’s extraordinary achievements and its pivotal role in global innovation.
George explains “the heart of the Israel Test is how you react to people who excel you in intellect, creativity, wealth, accomplishment. Do you admire them, and emulate them, and learn from them or do you envy, and hate them, and try to tear them down? And this is really the test of capitalism or test of free enterprise, is whether you regard your competitors as expanding opportunities for you and exploring the frontiers of creation for you in the image of your creator, or whether you regard them as somehow a menace to your future.”
Smart people are society’s most valuable resource, yet the modern egalitarian movements relentlessly undermines recognition of individual talent and achievement.
George reminds that “we are all dependent on a small minority of geniuses really, who opened the horizons of the future for the rest of the world. And in recent history, a disproportionate number of them have been Jewish.”
“Charles Murray has documented in The Bell Curve that Jewish IQs are decidedly higher than the IQs of any other group, and the tails of the high IQ distribution are massively Jewish, so that among the geniuses of the world, about half of them have been Jewish. It's just a fact of life.”
“Today, half of the companies among the top 10 market cap companies in the world are founded or led by Jews, and many of these companies are in part dependent on Israel’s innovations.”
The conversation also touches on global politics, including relations with China, emphasizing the importance of collaboration over confrontation—a principle that aligns with the broader implications of The Israel Test. By recognizing and partnering with high-achieving nations and entities, societies can foster mutual growth and address global challenges more effectively.
By attracting and collaborating with geniuses wherever they have emerged from around the world, including Israel, America became a beacon of civilization. When we stop celebrating genius and begin envying, when we regard success as theft rather than a gift, our society and economy collapses.
Understanding this phenomena is The Israel Test.
Some Key Takeaways:
Israel's Arab Citizens Remain Peaceful Amid Conflict (00:01:08): Contrary to expectations, Israel's 2 million Arab citizens have not rebelled in this war.
Venture Capital Flourishes Despite War (00:02:56): Israel's venture capital investments have surged by 38% in the past year, even amidst the ongoing conflict.
NVIDIA's Acquisition of Israel’s Mellanox Fueled the AI Boom (00:05:22):The integration of Mellanox's technology allowed NVIDIA to transform data centers into hyper-scale computers, powering modern AI.
The "Israel Test" Explores How People React to Others’ Excellence (00:09:40):People's responses to those who excel—whether with admiration or envy—reflect their views on capitalism and success.
Through History, Jewish Contributions Have Been Disproportionately High (00:12:14): Jewish individuals have historically been overrepresented among geniuses and Nobel Prize winners.
Antisemitism Rooted in Envy (00:13:54):Envy of Jewish success has fueled historical and contemporary antisemitism.
Critique of Egalitarian Movements (00:19:19): Modern movements focused on equality may ignore individual differences in talent and hinder societal progress.
Universities and Rising Antisemitism (00:24:09): The infiltration of certain ideologies into academia has contributed to increasing antisemitic sentiments on campuses.
Climate Change Policies Called into Question (00:39:09): Gilder describes current climate policies as misguided, arguing they are based on unfounded fears.
Higher CO₂ Levels Not Detrimental (00:40:05): Citing prominent scientists, they suggest that increased CO₂ levels may not pose the threats commonly asserted.
Graphene: The Next Technological Revolution (00:49:15): Graphene's potential to revolutionize technology is immense, with Israel taking a leading role in its development.
How We Deal with China Should Be More Nuanced (00:55:05): Gilder contends that treating China as an adversary is a policy mistake, advocating for cooperation to avoid unnecessary conflict.
