[T-Toe]

How do you quantify intelligence? I've always wanted to know. Society assumes that academic intelligence is proportional to a person's 'overall intelligence'. Whether we're happy with it or not, academic intelligence is hugely favoured upon. Does academic intelligence bare any useful meaning or is it just there to generate heirachy and sycophant-ness? So how can you determine whether an individual is intelligent or moronic? People are so quick to pass judgement on people's intelligence, so I wonder, what gives them the right? Is the idea of intelligence entirely subjective?

[TheSelfAcknowleged]

It is largely proportional to and thus determined by, one's GCSE results.































I'm sorry but I had to put that in
To be serious, I think the IQ test is closest, but not perfect. But I'm relatively unaware of alternatives that exist so I'm probably wrong. I'd consider intellect to consist of numeracy and literacy capacity.

[T-Toe]

(Original post by TheSelfAcknowleged)
x

Doesn't IQ tests just mean you're good at IQ tests?

[magicmuggle]

If you asking for what objectively defines intelligence, I don't thing anything does. Some people seem to think that having a string of A* results does quantify how intelligent you are, but I think it is more about how good you are at exam technique/cramming ect... all good skills to have, but a lack of those skills does not an idiot make.

As for how we can look at it, I think we determine intelligence of others personally - I generally think someone is intelligent if they can hold sustained, interesting conversation and form their own opinions (also, common sense is good!), but that is purely my definition and I know many won't agree.

I think this is an interesting question though!

[MangoFreak]

I think you'll find it difficult to find a universally agreed-upon definition of intelligence.

Personally I consider someone of greater intelligence to be better at learning, reasoning and have a completely open mind.

[Dark Horse]

It's strange because I know many clever people who didn't do too well in school. By "clever" I mean they appear to have alot of common sense and reasoning ability.

In order to pass exams and coursework and such you need to remember a certain amount of information and recall it when the appropriate question comes up. In any test I've done I've been able to do this, but only because I spent hours going over and over each thing. I don't really consider myself "intelligent" because of this, more like I'm willing to try.

[T-Toe]

(Original post by MangoFreak)
I think you'll find it difficult to find a universally agreed-upon definition of intelligence.

Personally I consider someone of greater intelligence to be better at learning, reasoning and have a completely open mind.

Should certain types of intelligence be put on a pedestal?

Some people would say somebody who studies mathematics is 'smarter' than someone who reads 'English' (a recent thread brought this about).

Is there such a thing as 'sounding smart'?

[kka25]

According to 'TSR general population', if you get truck loads of A* in your A-Levels, got into Oxbridge and always want to go into banking, then you're 'intelligent'.

[bbm100]

intelligence comes in many forms.

a person who is really good at maths is intelligent.
a person who is really good at something not academic e.g debating or music is intelligent.
a person who is really good at persuading people is also intelligent.

therefore, i think it is safe to conclude that a person who is really good at something is intelligent.

[MangoFreak]

(Original post by T-Toe)
Should certain types of intelligence be put on a pedestal?

Some people would say somebody who studies mathematics is 'smarter' than someone who reads 'English' (a recent thread brought this about).

Is there such a thing as 'sounding smart'?

Well, if someone speaks to another person with a less-expansive vocabulary, that person may think that the speaker 'sounds smart'. It's all subjective.

[Fuzzy12345]

For me intelligence is the ability to be able to pick up and understand information quickly and be able to apply it to new situations quickly, tbh IQ tests are the closest to measure intelligence

[TheSelfAcknowleged]

(Original post by T-Toe)
Doesn't IQ tests just mean you're good at IQ tests?

Good point. But IQ tests are supposed to be representative of your intellectual potential...

[Blutooth]

I can't define it in a few words, but one thing is for certain: I know when I see it.

Edit: sounded too much like a cop out- I'd say the ability to adapt to new environments is at the heart of intelligence.
Also, predicting the future : ie what people, markets or sub-atomic particles are going to do next, is also pretty central to intelligence.

[Antifazian]

Very hard to do.
I think of it as the person's way of thinking, as in you have people who are logical, creative, mathematical, socially intelligent, etc. but then you run into problems when you try to say whether one person is intelligent or not - does being mathematically intelligent, but lacking in social intelligence, mean that a person is intelligent or unintelligent?

[T-Toe]

(Original post by TheSelfAcknowleged)
Good point. But IQ tests are supposed to be representative of your intellectual potential...

In what way?

[TheSelfAcknowleged]

(Original post by T-Toe)
In what way?

Not sure: sorry I don't know that much about how IQ tests work

[AspiringGenius]

(Original post by bbm100)
intelligence comes in many forms.

a person who is really good at maths is intelligent.
a person who is really good at something not academic e.g debating or music is intelligent.
a person who is really good at persuading people is also intelligent.

therefore, i think it is safe to conclude that a person who is really good at something is intelligent.

My cousin is really good at punching. Therefore he is intelligent.

(/flaw in theory )

[Pitt1988]

I'd say the ability to understand presented information quickly and correctly, then identify problems and solutions to these... I dunno. There's different types though I guess, my brother is very logical and mathematical, whereas I'm the opposite of logical, rather think in all kinds of different perspectives. Some people I guess are more suited to different vocations, but wouldn't necessarily mean one is more intelligent than the other.

[bmqib]

ability to process information really quickly and analyse them to produce useful results

[Rennit]

IQ tests are a horrendous measure of Intelligence. I'd say there is an element of strong proportionality to AS and A level results, although intelligence as a whole cannot be tested.