Can we truly define who is intelligent? Or what intelligence is?

Question

I probably asked this question a million times. Could it be that I am not intelligent? Then again...It's like trying to describe what virtue is. There are so many definitions. It's not like a solid that has a definite shape. Even a solid doesn't have a definite shape. There is no perfect shape in this world. Do you know what I mean, if yes, answer my question please. Doesn't intelligence depend on culture, envirnment..etc.

Answer 1

We, that is the collective us, have no idea about the actual levels of intelligence that may or may not exist. We have a perception that is based on our own understanding of things that we were taught as fact but come to find out some of those facts are or were based on myths and beliefs of some previous generation.
I know what an IQ test is, I have passed some brilliantly and have failed miserably on the same tests. By that reckoning intelligence is not a solid element of reality but it is a perceived reckoning that is based on others interpretations.
Intelligence itself is a matter of debate.
So I say no, we cannot say who or what is intelligent or is unintelligent.
Ok, granted the astronaut is intelligent because she knows how to fly into space is a somewhat valid argument of intelligence but the same astronaut may get some emotional feelings and go into a rage of emotion that some would say is very unintelligent.
So we just accept what the agreed upon perception of a reality is and I can guarantee you that even though the baseball bat is simply electrons and atomic particles that are attracted to one another and bonded appear to be a solid object they are in fact very solid when they come into contact with a jaw bone.
My jaw broke, the bat did not.
∞

Answer 2

Definition is easy, measurement is more difficult. Intelligence is a native or inheirited ability to reason correctly.

That has to be contrasted with intuition which is also inheirited but does not rely on any ability to reason. When faced with a new situation, we can have a strong feeling that a certain solution is correct, that is intuition. The other contrast is achievement, which is a product of environment, learned skills, and life experiences. Being a genius (having high IQ) is of little value if that person does not discover how to apply this gift to practical situations faced every day. People of ordinary mentality can achieve high goals using a combination of reason and learned skills.

IQ tests have been devised to reduce the influence of intuition and achievement on the scores but it is not possible to eliminate those factors completely. The ability to succeed in life is not measured by IQ score, but high IQ score does have a positive correllation with achievement in school, ie "grades".

There is no absolute measure of IQ. The score of "100" is simply an average of testing many people. An individual has just as much statistical chance of scoring 50 as 200, but of course few people are at these extremes.

Answer 3

What use is intelligence without the means to put it to practical use? Pure IQ intelligence is of no use to anyone, not even yourself if there isn't either a system in place (i.e. a social structure) or some personal desire to exploit it in some way. It may as well be a brain in a jar or a computer that hasn't been plugged in.
Therefore, defining or quantifying intelligence is difficult because we are actually quantifying the result of it - the score on a test, social successes, the amount earned for example which can differ for a multitude of reasons.

Answer 4

Intelligence in the ability to be objective.
The ability varies from person to person and is probably a genetic outcome.
Objectivity is required to be intelligent.
Intelligence does guaranty objectivity.
Likely environment can influence intelligence but the basic ability must be there to begin with.
You could never teach an ape to speak.

Answer 5

High IQs create all the world's wealth, only to have it stolen from them by economic bullies. So it is in the interest or rich thieves to humiliate the intelligent by claiming that no one can prove who is intelligent.

If ungrateful people keep insulting us with these false accusations, it is our duty to send what is symbolized in the Flood, when we will live on an Ark.

Answer 6

intelligence depends almost entirely on the environment and the techniques the society uses to adapt individuals to their environment. Those who are best at both adapting to and changing, for the better, their physical, social, moral environment are the most intelligent people in that society during that particular period of time.

Answer 7

Intelligence is the single drop of purity that the mind can become due to the cognitive thought a brain might produce.

Answer 8

if your doing the same thing over and over again and are expecting the resuts to change that is stupid and not very intelligent