Two half started blogs and one exam later here I am.
I haven't written in a while, not due to lack of things to write about, more to the fact I have been revising for this exam for the past few days and nights. My intermitant revision spliced with Left4Dead has left me with little time or little motivation to write. But now, despite having another exam to revise for Thursday morning, and being practically sleepless, I'm going to blog.
Now the exam I just spent 3 hours waffling on this morning was about Personality Theory and Intelligence, a reasonably interesting subject even if it was boring to be examined on. This has lead me to want to blog about Intelligence and how I judge it. So I shall. Please remember this is just my subjective opinion.
I think Intelligence is an incredibly complex thing to sum up in a few lines or with a simple score *cough*IQ tests*cough*. I think there are many different ways to be intelligent or to show intelligence, and at the end of it its all subjective. I've tried to sum up what I think are the main factors. So here you have it, Shaun Kelletts Theory of Intelligence.
Rationality: The ability to think objectively and rationally.
Rationality, or at least the ability to show rationality, is key to intelligence. I pride myself in my ability to think through a situation rationally, which could be why I link it so much to intelligence. This doesn't mean I am not emotional, in fact I am a very emotional person at times, but normally I can see why I am emotional, make rational judgements, and even think about the situation objectively. Whether I listen to myself or not is another matter and what that says about my own intelligence is interesting.
It's my opinion that intelligence requires the ability to reason logically and think through a situation making rationality, in my opinion, a linchpin. Someone who is able to look past they're own subjective views, look at something from different angles, and think objectively about a situation or arguement shows intelligence.
Understanding: Understanding of the world, of people, and of yourself.
Slightly different, I feel, from Rationality. Understanding, in my opinion, can be in many contexts but I will identify three. Understanding of the world, Understanding of people, and Understanding of Yourself.
Firstly the World. General Knowledge, or Common Sense, is quite possibly one of the most important factors. Those who lack an understanding of such things generally do not show the greatest intelligence. I know that this is socially specific, for instance those who have grown up without a computer will be computer illiterate, but there are some things which just take an application of general common sense and initive to understand and work. Its through an understanding of the world around us that I feel we best show intelligence, such academic studies like Science and Maths support this. This Understanding, be it at a general level, such as showing initive, or at a higher level, such as understanding a more complex science or the politics of the world, is vital to intelligence.
Secondly people. I think another sign of intelligence is the ability to read people. I think it shows an innate understanding to be able to know, or atleast to suspect, when someone is either upset, annoyed, or lying, just from certain tells. It's easier when you know somebody inside out, girlfriends/boyfriends, best friends, children, partners, but still the understanding is there and I think it shows an understanding and a knowledge which can be linked to intelligence.
Thirdly yourself. I have always considered it good of someone to be able to realise their flaws and short comings and this applies to my theory as its an understanding of yourself. This doesn't have to be negative as much of understanding yourself understands what you are capable of. If you know where you excel and can put this to your advantage.
Opinionation: The ability to create an informed opinion with a good arguemental basis.
This might seem to be completely opposite to Rationality, in that if something has a logical and factual outcome it can't be too subject to opinion. However, I feel that the ability to form an opinion and support it with an arguement shows intelligence. I don't think just having an opinion shows intelligence, such as the moon being made of cheese, but I think if someone can support and back up their opinion, give a judgement as to why it is so which is sound and stable, shows a certain degree of intelligence.
Creativity: The ability to create and portray new things in new ways.
Not necessarily the first thing you think of when thinking about Intelligence. Surely the ability to create is not linked with being Smart?... Or is it? Personally I think the ability to create shows an ability to understand, and an understanding shows intelligence. To write a story it has to work, it has to flow, and it has to appeal to others. By work I mean you can't simply create a fictional race without understanding the dynamics of a culture. By flow I mean it has to develop, show memorable characters and a decent well thought out plot. And finally by appeal I mean it has to be enjoyable for others to read. The same goes for art.
A lot of art shows subjectivity but also it shows a way of presenting an idea. It's one thing painting pretty pictures and taking pretty photographs but its another to do something creative and thought provoking with it. The ability to provoke thought is another key feature.
Now I wanted to round this off with a Fifth but I struggled. I wanted to have 'Maths, Science, and Linguistic ability' but I feel that they all come under Understanding. Albeit a deeper and more knowledgable Understanding. I also think Linguistic ability comes under Opinionation, with the ability to articulate a complex arguement in a fluid manor.
You might consider all this to be bias. I mentioned how I pride myself on my ability to have rational thoughts, I am also a creative writer, this blog is based on my opinion of intelligence, and through it I have hopefully showed an understanding. So now, you probably think I think I am pretty smart. I assure you I am not that arrogant. Personally I like to think I am of an Average, or maybe even an Above Average intelligence. Hope you all enjoyed, let me know what you think and how you would rate yourself!
Shaun Kellett
Clockwork Musings
No comments:
Post a Comment