they're intellectually challenging

[GoodTaste]

Does "intellectually challenging" mean "(people like Bill Gates are) intellectually excellent, which poses a challenge for the ordinary"?


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Sam Harris liked
Claire Lehmann
@clairlemon
The vilification of Bill Gates is disturbing. While many people find it easy to understand being motivated by power & greed, the idea that people might do things because they're intellectually challenging & also *good* seems too bizarre to contemplate. Sad reflection of humanity.

 

[GoesStation]

In the quotation, intellectually challenging refers to ideas, not people. Such ideas are interesting, difficult, and satisfying to investigate.

 

[GoodTaste]

In the quotation, intellectually challenging refers to ideas, not people. Such ideas are interesting, difficult, and satisfying to investigate.

Whose ideas?

 

[GoesStation]

Whose ideas?

The quote just mentions "things" that people do. It's up the reader to imagine what those things are. Familiarity with the context will help guide that.

 

[emsr2d2]

The idea that people might do things because they're intellectually challenging & also *good* seems too bizarre to contemplate.

If you take that segment on its own, I think you'll be able to see how "intellectually challenging" refers to "things".
"Too bizarre to contemplate" refers to "The idea".