What is
intelligence? What does it mean to be an intelligent person? Well, the Oxford
dictionary defines it as "the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and
skills". Now, how can such a broad definition be quantified by a single IQ
test? And wouldn't that mean that the idea of intelligence is non-existent in
other animals simply because they cannot perform an IQ test?
The fact of
the matter is, the very idea of intelligence has perplexed philosophers and anthropologists
throughout the ages. The truth is that intelligence is and always has been a
very abstract concept that we carve and sculpt ourselves. Picasso, for instance,
was no less intelligent than Einstein because he was an artist instead of a
physicist. The truth is, they both excelled in their professions and changed
the dynamics of the subjects they partook in because of the contributions they
made. The point here being; you don't have to be great with numbers, or good at
root memorising text books, or coming first come in your class to be classified
as intelligent. Like I said, you design your own definition of intelligence as
you perceive and interpret things through your own and unique endeavour of
life.
However, throughout
all of this, one fact remains a constant. We will always be biased towards what
we believe intelligence is because we have a very primitive and evolutionary
desire to be "more skilled' than the next person and the moment we admit
otherwise, the very foundations of our beliefs crumble along with our ego. And
as evil as we perceive the ego to be, it is the most significant factor in
making us confident. So essentially...if you believe you are intelligent: you
will mimic the qualities of an intelligent person. Such is the nature of life.
In
summation, I believe that the famous Greek philosopher Aristotle had closest to
the best definition of intelligence which included physical, mental and physiological
connotations; and I quote: "It is the mark of an intelligent mind to be
able to entertain ideas without believing them".
