What is intelligence?

[S O F I]

What is intelligence, really, and how do we measure it correctly?
Does intelligence equal knowledge, is a person more intelligent due to reading more books and doing so, acquiring knowledge? Is intelligence good critical thinking and math solving? Is intelligence being a good reader and being able to comprehend correctly what you read? Is a person more intelligent if he/she's better than somebody else in math? Or in English? Are IQ tests a good way of measuring intelligence? If, how so? If not, what is?

Discuss.

 

[Glockmatic]

IQ tests are terrible ways of measuring someones intelligence. Some people are intelligent in english, while others are intelligent in music and other arts. An illiterate person can also be a virtuoso

 

[Illuminattile]

I remember we had a thread like this before. There isn't a universally accepted theory of intelligence, so this is just what I think of when I see or use the word 'intelligence'

Intelligence and knowledge separate but related things. Knowledge is what you've learned, intelligence is your ability to learn. Most people suggest that there are different 'types' of intelligent; you can be intelligent in some areas but not others. If Einstein couldn't spell, nobody would call him unintelligent. If Shakespeare was useless with maths, nobody would say he was dumb.

Intelligence is a very general mental capability that, among other things, involves the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn quickly and learn from experience. It is not merely book learning, a narrow academic skill, or test-taking smarts. Rather, it reflects a broader and deeper capability for comprehending our surroundings--"catching on," "making sense" of things, or "figuring out" what to do.

http://www.psychpage.com/learning/library/intell/mainstream.html

http://www.lrainc.com/swtaboo/taboos/apa_01.html

 

[Prophet G]

intelligence is the willingness to understand a concept. true intelligence is knowing how everything around u works. its not necessarily knowledge and how much of something u know cuz we can all memorize info. but how well u understand what u know. thats what i think...

 

[Ghetto_Ghost]

something that is broken into 3 categories.
the known - shit u know
the unknown - shit u dont know yet but you can potentially learn if you are exposed to it
the unknowable - shit you will never know/intuition

 

[kman_69]

if you have to ask....you'll never know.

 

[Jokerman]

Beauty is a kind of intelligence.

 

[Bender]

Intelligence:

1.
a) The capacity to acquire and apply knowledge.
b) The faculty of thought and reason.
c) Superior powers of mind.

2. An intelligent, incorporeal being, especially an angel.

3. Information; news.

4.
a) Secret information, especially about an actual or potential enemy.
b) An agency, staff, or office employed in gathering such information.
c) Espionage agents, organizations, and activities considered as a group: “Intelligence is nothing if not an institutionalized black market in perishable commodities” (John le Carré).

 

[The.Menace]

The capacity to understand and solve previous unknown situation (problems) is called intelligence.

 

[Jewpac]

Intelligence is knowing what to do when nobody else does...

 

[Bender]

A twelve letter word with 5 vowels and 7 consonants.

^That's intelligence!

 

[not really ken]

intelligence is application of knowledge, I think that sounds pretty right. Also common sense. This is calculating hte best course of action based on knowledge, understanding and emotional intelligence

I think Einstein said something like: Common sense is a collection of prejudiceas aquired till the age of 18.

 

[Pacaveli-T]

The capacity to acquire and apply knowledge.
The faculty of thought and reason

intelligence is everything we use to abide by the sign of logic or knowledge...may be useless or wrong to some and vice-versa we cant rate or categorize intelligence seeing its too general although because of the society we live in and the social norms some find it easy to judge it...IQ test are thought to be dicontinued now seeing that the fields of knowledge are too braod for an individulas capacity to know....it doesnt mean either if one has a weak spot in one categorey makes him/her any less intelligent....although some percieve it that way doesnt make it any more true.

 

[Khaled]

It's the ability to visualize clearly complexe situation.
to look at something, and see that it makes perfect sence.

 

[Illuminattile]

intelligence is the willingness to understand a concept. true intelligence is knowing how everything around u works. its not necessarily knowledge and how much of something u know cuz we can all memorize info. but how well u understand what u know. thats what i think...

I don't think it's willlingness to understand a concept. An unintelligent person might want to understand something which they can't; an intelligent person might not want to understand something with they can.

 

[Jurhum]

Intelligence is the absence of stupidity. There you have it.

 

[imported_MAKaveli_10]

Intelligence is the absence of stupidity. There you have it.

thats pretty good. :thumb:

 

[Vienna]

no i think thats pretty dumb

 

[Illuminattile]

Intelligence is the absence of stupidity. There you have it.

What is stupidity? Stupidity is the absence of intelligence.

 

[one mc on dj]

www.dictionary.com nuff said