Do you believe intelligence is a gift? Or is it something you can work for?

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

This is something I want to address. It's very personal to me. I don't want to make this debate about comparing the intelligence of other's, that's not my intention. I also don't believe in "intelligence is in the mind of the beholder" or otherwise known as Pseudo-intellectualism. But my issue is that we don't know much of anything in this world. Many things are hidden and unknown. I'm talking about intelligence based on what we know. Now I want to say that I believe history and science go hand in hand. The two need to coexist. I was at a super market months ago, talking to a woman who said "History is boring, we got science"(paraphrasing) Now I am going to break this down into categories. Because I let my mind wander while typing so these are the categories. I will let you guys kick start the conversation first.

 

Public Education vs Self Discipline, Research

Indoctrination vs Application 

Genetic(proof?) vs Experience?

Society vs Self 

Majority vs Minority

Facts vs Opinions 

Ad Hominem vs Mutual Respect 

Famous vs Infamous 

Edited January 20, 2014 by TheMarkz0ne

[Standard User 2,127]

Intelligence is both a nature'd and a nurtured gift. You can be born with a propensity for "intelligent" things (such as scholastic subjects, sciences, etc.) but if you aren't raised to cultivate that gift, then it will fade. My sister and I are both smartypant kids (I don't want to bother beating around the bush, so excuse my brashness); a part of that is because while most kids our age were out partying or wandering aimlessly around town or whatever "normal" kids do, her and I were sat down at home and given a massive library of books. We were raised to become nerds, so that is what we are.

 

Intelligence can be learned, I believe, as well. Same with becoming a writer or an athlete or any other title: if you work hard enough at it, positive results will follow.

[Delernil 952]

Intelligence is both a nature'd and a nurtured gift. You can be born with a propensity for "intelligent" things (such as scholastic subjects, sciences, etc.) but if you aren't raised to cultivate that gift, then it will fade. My sister and I are both smartypant kids (I don't want to bother beating around the bush, so excuse my brashness); a part of that is because while most kids our age were out partying or wandering aimlessly around town or whatever "normal" kids do, her and I were sat down at home and given a massive library of books. We were raised to become nerds, so that is what we are.

 

Intelligence can be learned, I believe, as well. Same with bec oming a writer or an athlete or any other title: if you work hard enough at it, positive results will follow.

As a flip to this, I was very unintelligent. Actually, I still am. But while lots of my friends were, like you said, going out or whatever I stayed home and did school stuff. I did better than most.

[~Silver Essence~ 2,625]

Intelligence is a virtue, as it is acquired by heritage, or destiny.

 

But I for one believe that it's not only by a gift, but if you were raised well from your parents.

[Fluttershyfan94 5,742]

I believe it's both a gift as well as something you have to work for. Some have an easier time learning then others, but that doesn't help unless you actually learn. Let's not forget that intelligence can take many shapes but I think those who have an easier time learning are the ones that have a gift. But those who have had a harder time can become just as intelligent it may just be harder.

[Shanks 10,816]

Both, some people are born with great intelligence but no matter how much they have it dosen't mean jack squat unless they properly channel it and some people have to work a bit harder in certain areas but there have been some cases where people have worked hard enough to turn former weaknesses into strengths.

[Scootalove 10,689]

Intelligence is both a gift and something that you have to work hard for. It can be a gift that a person that can be born with, and something that can be earned through hard work if you are willing to learn a lot to attain intelligence.

 

It can come in both ways or in more ways than one.

[Fire Bomb 121]

It is both, some people can be born intelligent, while those who arent can work to become intelligent

[Untitled Goose Q 5,137]

I would also say that intelligence, like most traits, is both. Genetics definitely has am impact, however you can also have intelligence removed by your upbringing. And yes, it can be worked on.

[Dsanders 5,747]

Knowledge is a very fascinating attribute to life. How we learn and process information, make calculations, ideas, analyses does seem like quite a mystery if you really think about it. Of course some people hold the fundamental aristocratic belief that knowledge is simply obtained from experience, in contrast to Plato's fundamental belief that knowledge and essences of life come from an outside ontological source. I personally belief that knowledge is obtained from the unknown, so I guess you can say my philosophy on this goes in accord to what Plato believed. How we are able to come up with unique ideas and beautiful and creative music, art, poetry, and literature has me personally convinced that it is not something that merely comes through experience, observation, and gain, but rather as something that is inherent within the heart of all humanity. 

 

Again that is just my own personal philosophy. 

[Onylex 2,837]

Can I say that it is both?

 

I mean there is a lot of information you need to work for, information that you need to acquire over time.

Then there is information this is practically given to you, just things you learn as you become older and wiser.

[GrauWitz 1,010]

If intelligence is a gift, the vast majority of the guys in my school have not recieved it

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

Public Education vs Self Discipline, Research

 

I hated public schooling. In short I just never learned anything from sitting in a desk and listening to some person talk and teach me like a dog. In school people made me seem like an idiot. Just because I wasn't very attentive in my classes. I just got by with some Bs and an A here and there. Most classes weren't hard in anyway. I never applied myself. After freshmen year I did. I actually had to deal with many of the "honor" students or the "elites". Now don;t get me wrong, some of those men and women are really intelligent people, I think they're smarter than me. But I don't like how there's so much contention for getting a letter. It's like a little kid trying to garner attention. You got an A+ on that calculus test! OK well how are you in calculus compared to millions of others? Education to me is indoctrination. If you want the truth college hundreds of years ago was something you could gain a ton from. But it was mostly a fraternity and social thing. Families did it for image like we do today. Except kids today think having some ivy league degree is going to make them 6 figures as promised. 

 

I had to teach myself so much thanks to that very evil and useless thing called the internet. Sure you have to dig around and work hard to find fact vs fiction. But in the end's it's worth it. The internet is literally a beautiful treasure people take for granted. I learned 30x more online than I learned in public schooling for 12 years. Classes like History and some science like micro biology and anatomy I just love to learn about. Math and English are subjects I have to really work for because it's something to endure.

 

In the end I believe application is superior to sitting in some sterile room listening to a guy teach from a book that probably censored things or isn't flat out telling the truth. Like when I was in 3rd grade we learned Columbus was the first to the Americas. We all know that's a lie. The natives were here. You can also find out that ancient Egyptians and Romans also were here, because of what they left behind.

[Gravelord Neat-O 305]

i don't mean to sound stupid, but i believe intelligence is just memory and practice. if that makes sense? 

never mind, just disregard my opinion.........

Edited January 20, 2014 by PringlesShy

[zev_zev The outcast 415]

There are no gifts from nature. If you have both hands, both legs, both eyes and ears, you may think that you're lucky, because some people don't have even this. As for intelligence, every person can develop it so strong, how strong his/her will, how hard he/she can work.  If you think that you lack the intelligence, well, at least you're honest with yourself, that's good. Don't blame nature in this, we all have the same opportunities. 

Edited January 21, 2014 by zev_zev

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

There are no gifts from nature. If you have both hands, both legs, both eyes and ears, you may think that you're lucky, because some people don't have even this. As for intelligence, every person can develop it so strong, how strong his/her will, how hard he/she can work.  If you think that you lack the intelligence, well, at least you're honest with yourself, that's good. Don't blame nature in this, we all have the same opportunities. 

I believe it's personally both. There is no proof for a "smart gene" many of the alleged smartest people of the world never even attended college.

[zev_zev The outcast 415]

I believe it's personally both. There is no proof for a "smart gene" many of the alleged smartest people of the world never even attended college.

Education is not always an indicator of high intelligence. Albert Einstein was a slacker when he studied in school

[ReverseFaller 2,483]

zev_zev, on 20 Jan 2014 - 5:56 PM, said:

There are no gifts from nature. If you have both hands, both legs, both eyes and ears, you may think that you're lucky, because some people don't have even this. As for intelligence, every person can develop it so strong, how strong his/her will, how hard he/she can work.  If you think that you lack the intelligence, well, at least you're honest with yourself, that's good. Don't blame nature in this, we all have the same opportunities. 

 

I was thinking the same thing. Anyways the beauty of education is that anybody can use it to better their intelligence.

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

Education is not always an indicator of high intelligence. Albert Einstein was a slacker when he studied in school

Albert Einstein was outwitted by people like Nikola Tesla. Einstein was actually a patent clerk who got lucky and had more funding than someone like Tesla. Einstein even thought his own theory was wrong toward the end of his life.

[CT-1138 3,182]

I believe intelligence is a kind of gift like alcohol is; it must be used responsibly for any good to come of it. If you work hard to be intelligent, make sure you're working hard for the right reasons and not just for self worth. When you hold intelligence, the most important thing you can do with that intelligence is use it to help others. Knowledge is to be used  for the betterment of humanity, not to be hoarded and have people be told that they should go off and learn it themselves. Within that lies greed and selfishness and is the very reason why so much scientific knowledge available to the world hasn't expanded beyond the journal and into the public where it belongs.

 

Also, remember. You can be knowledgeable in a subject without being intelligent. If you study the wrong things, you can become very knowledgeable, however knowledgeable in only subjects that will not be taken seriously by a scientifically minded person.

[Spirk Burkham 93]

I do not consider intelligence a gift. I consider it a fact. I am intelligent. you are intelligent. the fact that we can all consider this question proves that we are intelligent, at least by human standards. but because we are intelligent, it does not mean that we are better in any way, it is just a quality that makes us unique. like opposable thumbs. and lovin' MLP. 

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

Ok first let me say this:

 

There is a difference between being intelligence, smartness, and wisdom

 

Intelligence is your capacity and speed of learning

Smartness is how much you know

Wisdom is knowing how to apply what you know in the right way.

 

Now then, intelligence is mostly a genetic thing that can be further developed in a small time period called the "Critical Learning Period" very early in our lives.

 

Society play a very important role in intelligence during this small time frame, and evidence is found when you compare a child whos parents interacted with their child (Playing, talked to them EXT), Vs. Parents who simply put their child in front of the Tv.

 

After this time period however, society has little or no effect on intelligence.

 

So all in all, You cant work for your own intelligence.

 

However, even unintelligent persons can be smart, they just have to work a little harder.

 

And of course with age comes experience, and with experience come wisdom.

 

Does this make sense?

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

I believe intelligence is a kind of gift like alcohol is; it must be used responsibly for any good to come of it. If you work hard to be intelligent, make sure you're working hard for the right reasons and not just for self worth. When you hold intelligence, the most important thing you can do with that intelligence is use it to help others. Knowledge is to be used  for the betterment of humanity, not to be hoarded and have people be told that they should go off and learn it themselves. Within that lies greed and selfishness and is the very reason why so much scientific knowledge available to the world hasn't expanded beyond the journal and into the public where it belongs.

 

Also, remember. You can be knowledgeable in a subject without being intelligent. If you study the wrong things, you can become very knowledgeable, however knowledgeable in only subjects that will not be taken seriously by a scientifically minded person.

well in this world where information is concealed, how do we determine right or wrong?(information wise) I agree with disinformation artist. Like Ray Comfort isn't a scientist, but Kent Hovind is.

 

The Massachusetts education board is simply horrific. It had at my time, a low passing rate of students. A very tiny few had a high GPA( but to me that doesn't mean anything) I did well in every course except advanced math. 

My science teachers also sucked. I only had a great teacher in anatomy class and that was about it. 

Edited January 21, 2014 by TheMarkz0ne

[XxConfusedUnicornxX 834]

i think its just environmental caused like if the childs parents is smart then the child is exposed to all the smart stuff, then the child might become smart.

[GhostPony750 959]

It's actually impossible to measure someone's intelligence. The IQ test only measures your ability to solve problems, and it's pretty inaccurate even.

 

Also, you can't be good with everything; I believe there is a balance somewhere. Someone may be good in mathematics, but be completly horrible in social interactions. While someone is good with people, but he can't stay alone without being bored. You cannot be perfect, but you can work to be good with plenty of things.

 

I actually suck in maths and science, but I have a huge knowledge about rocks, cars, I studied psychology heavily this summer, and I'm pretty good with it. I have won a writing contest, I learned to read almost at the same time as I started talking, but I still cannot speak properly; there is always a balance.

 

And this balance is important in society; if we loose it, the society crumble.