Thread: Intelligence

People often use the word intelligence but often they don't really seem to know the meaning of the word. I have never seen a relly definition and maybe there isn't any. Intelligence, as I see it, is the capability of using the advantages with the brain and compensating for it's lacks.
What's your idea of intelligence?

The natural ability to recognise patterns and selectivly identify objective data without the use of any external assistance. Or the ability to concuction elongated, complicated words.

Practically everyone you ask will have a slightly different (scientific) definition for the word intelligence. It basically has no exact definition yet. I'm waiting on a better neurobiological description, myself.

The ability to objectively create information.

Most people that I know essentially believe that intelligence is how well you can conform.....
In other words, how well you can emulate the morons that they consider intelligent, who really aren't.

These idiots do not understand true intelligence. Listening to someone say something, then just repeating what was said at a later date only says that you are knowledgeable, not intelligent. People often confuse knowledge with intelligence. Anyone can listen to another person and memorize what they said if they were to try hard enough, but not everyone can create their own philosophy, mathematical equation, or understanding of how things work.

Well, this is what some others believe it is.
1. The act or state of knowing; the exercise of the
understanding.

2. The capacity to know or understand; readiness of
comprehension; the intellect, as a gift or an endowment.

And dimmed with darkness their intelligence.
--Spenser.

3. Information communicated; news; notice; advice.

Intelligence is given where you are hid. --Shak.

4. Acquaintance; intercourse; familiarity. [Obs.]

He lived rather in a fair intelligence than any
friendship with the favorites. --Clarendon.

5. Knowledge imparted or acquired, whether by study,
research, or experience; general information.

I write as he that none intelligence Of meters hath,
ne flowers of sentence. --Court of
Love.

6. An intelligent being or spirit; -- generally applied to
pure spirits; as, a created intelligence. --Milton.

The great Intelligences fair That range above our
mortal state, In circle round the blessed gate,
Received and gave him welcome there. --Tennyson.

Well actually the most striking answer I got was from a psychologist: Intelligence is what you measure. What a load of manure. Did you ever read Robinson Crusoe? When Friday shows up the hero treats him with condescendence but Friday has the way better solutions to problems they both encounter. In my book Friday is way more intelligent than Crusoe. So I'd say: creative problem solving.