The Myth of the Naturally Gifted

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We often hear that this or that person is “naturally gifted” in a specific realm or that each of us is put on Earth for a specific purpose. On this theory, the height of wisdom is to figure out what your “natural endowments” are and then cultivate them. Alluring as this idea is, it obscures the fact that we have free will and that, despite predispositions, we get to choose what we want to become.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Subscribe in</span> <a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/philosophy-for-flourishing/id1516846670"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Apple Podcasts</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2ygYLi3sTed0DkRWzUb95C"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Spotify</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, or wherever you’re listening right now.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Also check out: </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The Metaphysical Versus the Man-Made” by Ayn Rand:</span> <a href= "https://amzn.to/2AlgwXz"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">https://amzn.to/2AlgwXz</span></a></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mindset: The New Psychology of Success</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">by Carol Dweck:</span> <a href="https://amzn.to/2CRzaam"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">https://amzn.to/2CRzaam</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Hero Show, Episode 2: Life Lessons from Benjamin Franklin:</span> <a href= "https://youtu.be/CJIUqX7FFlc"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">https://youtu.be/CJIUqX7FFlc</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Muggsy Bogues Highlights:</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/lOGj8qM6hQ0"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">https://youtu.be/lOGj8qM6hQ0</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Seven Poems Celebrating Free Will” by various authors:</span> <a href= "https://www.theobjectivestandard.com/2019/02/seven-poems-celebrating-free-will/"> <span style= "font-weight: 400;