What is Intelligence?
What is Intelligence?
Intelligence is comprised of three abilities:
- the ability to ACQUIRE knowledge
- the ability to UNDERSTAND the knowledge acquired
- the ability to IMPLEMENT the acquired and understood knowledge
It really is as simple as that.
These abilities are put to work by us when we are actively SEEKING knowledge (collecting information) commonly referred to as RESEARCH, employing REASON (thoughts, asking questions) to understand the knowledge (information or data) that we have acquired, and then using RECKONING to properly act upon it as we should.
These are the tools (research, reason, and reckoning) that we employ in acquiring, understanding and implementing knowledge.
Intelligence uses these three tools:
- RESEARCH: used to acquire knowledge
- REASON: used to understand knowledge
- RECKONING: used to implement knowledge
Definitions
The definitions provided below proceed from the sources cited. The bold, highlighted texts portions have been added to focus attention on what I consider key components of the definitions.
Intelligence has been defined in many ways: the capacity for abstraction, logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. More generally, it can be described as the ability to perceive or infer information, and to retain it as knowledge to be applied towards adaptive behaviors within an environment or context.
Intelligence is most often studied in humans but has also been observed in both non-human animals and in plants despite controversy as to whether some of these forms of life exhibit intelligence.
Intelligence in computers or other machines is called artificial intelligence.
Human intelligence is the intellectual capability of humans, which is marked by complex cognitive feats and high levels of motivation and self-awareness. High intelligence is associated with better outcomes in life.
Through intelligence, humans possess the cognitive abilities to learn, form concepts, understand, apply logic and reason, including the capacities to recognize patterns, plan, innovate, solve problems, make decisions, retain information, and use language to communicate.
There are conflicting ideas about how intelligence is measured, ranging from the idea that intelligence is fixed upon birth, or that it is malleable and can change depending on an individual's mindset and efforts.
Several subcategories of intelligence, such as emotional intelligence or social intelligence, are heavily debated as to whether they are traditional forms of intelligence.
They are generally thought to be distinct processes that occur, though there is speculation that they tie into traditional intelligence more than previously suspected.
Intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge. Intelligence is the skilled use of reason.
- Acquire Knowledge (information, data)
- Manipulate One's Environment
- Abstract thought (measured by objective criteria -- tests)
The human brain is a biological computer (thinker)
- A computer's hardware (brain) can be "wiped"
- A human being's brain (mind) can be "washed" or "cleaned" ... in essence the same as "wiped"
- Brain washing is actually overwriting the existing programming
Thought is:
- reasoning (... the reason is the answer to the question "why"?
- problem solving
- learning
Intelligence is Cognitive Integration
Intelligence INTEGRATES cognition: perception, attention, memory, language and planning
Intelligent people can comprehend complex "ideas"
Opposite of INTEGRATION is isolation and reduction
integration
- adaptive behavior
- selection of the most appropriate contexts in which to "couch" the information received
- IF adaptation or selection FAILS, THEN action = change of environment is required action
Three Paths of Knowledge
KNOWING OR KNOWLEDGE
- empirical knowledge
- experimental knowledge
- intuitive knowledge
How to Identify an Intelligent Person
An intelligent person will process the information they receive and come to their own conclusions using their own critical thinking skills
Fluid Vs. Crystallized Intelligence
Fluid intelligence is your ability to process new information, learn, and solve problems.
Crystallized intelligence is your stored knowledge, accumulated over the years.
The two types work together and are equally important. They both increase through childhood.
Natural Intelligence & Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence - perceiving, synthesizing and infering information - demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by animals and humans. OED (OUP) defines artificial intelligence as:[1]
the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.
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The intelligence possessed by living things, especially human beings, is "real" intelligence and is contrasted to the intelligence that is present in machines, which may contain varying levels of what is called "artificial" intelligence.
This contrast can be designated as thus:
- Natural (Biological)
- Artificial (Mechanical)
There could be no "artificial intelligence" without it being "created" by human beings that possess natural intelligence.
Natural or true intelligence includes additional components that are not present in machines, because they are non-living things.
Things Often Mistaken for Intelligence
What are things that are often mistaken for intelligence?
Academic Achievement & Credentials
Academic achievement and the credentials (certifications and/or degrees) and their accompanying status are no doubt the primary things that are mistaken for intelligence.
Information Retention and Recall
Information Retention and Recall is no doubt most often equated and misconstrued as intelligence.
If one's ability to retain information (memorize data) and recall it quickly and readily is very good, they will usually be able to make the highest scores when they are presented with a test.
They make "good grades". They can answer the questions they are asked with the responses that their teachers and professors require.
What do you need to "ace that test" or almost ANY test?
These are the most important in order (in my view)
- Ability to Memorize and Recall Easily
- Focus Upon Subject Material without Critically Evaluating It
- Acceptance of All Previously ASSUMED Paradigms that Under gird the Material
- Willingness to Comply with Regurgitating Material without Hesitation
Position and Status
Individuals that occupy positions of power or have influence that accompanies their status are usually considered to be intelligent people.
However, more often than not status or position is dependent primarily by who one knows rather than what one knows.
Status or position is almost certainly achieved if one is wealthy - regardless of the means used to acquire their wealth.
Human Attributes that Undergird True Intelligence
These Five Human Attributes Under gird True Intelligence
- CURIOSITY ... questioning ... not afraid to ask questions, even risking embarrassment to themselves and others
- DISCRIMINATION ... understand human behavior patterns and are discriminating
- CONVICTION ... originality ... willing to stand on what you think
- INTEGRITY ... intellectual integrity (honesty over status)
- LOVE ... grasp what is important (people not things)
The Single Foundation Required for True Intelligence
There is a single foundation that is required for true intelligence and that foundation is Realization.
What Must be Realized?
- I have been programmed.
- I am being programmed.
- I will continue to be programmed.
Until we accept this fact, we will be incapable of true intelligence and will only be able to achieve the intelligence level of machines, which is called "artificial" intelligence.
Our programming is responsible for HOW we think.
All of us have been programmed ERRONEOUSLY in some ways. If we realize and accept this fact to the point of embracing it, we can exercise our free will to "reprogram" ourselves TRUTHFULLY.
my brain is a biological computer and I have been programmed and am still being programmed.
- observation
- scrutiny
- assembly
- open-mindedness
Consider These Seven Steps Followed in our Thinking
- Realization
- Observation
- Interrogation
- Execution (run scripts ... thinking)
- Tabulation (compilation)
- Evaluation
- Conclusion
