Define "Intelligence"

[Piscivore]

I'm interested in what (if any) consensus there is.

 

[Lord Muck oGentry]

I'm interested in what (if any) consensus there is.

You are likely to get an almighty clash of stipulative meanings for the word

Still, in a spirit of fun, let me cite Peter Medawar. Building on Jane Austen's notion of " strength of understanding", he suggests:"... speed and span of grasp, the ability to see implications and conversely to discern a non sequitur and other fallacies, to discern analogies and formal parallels between outwardly dissimilar phenomena or thought structures, and much else besides." ( Pluto's Republic)

Beats me , of course.

 

[Piscivore]

You are likely to get an almighty clash of stipulative meanings for the word

I realise that.

 

[Serenity]

I'll give it a shot, I guess using Justice Potter Stewart's line, “I know it when I see it.” wouldn't work here.

Intelligence is on one level, creativity which allows one to conceptualize, thinking abstractly. On another level it’s one’s ability to problem solve… mastering your environment through the application of analytical skills. I’m not sure how great a role memory plays since it really just serves the above cognitive skills. Self awareness would be derived from creative intelligence so it goes without say, really.

 

[Dymanic]

Of all the bazzillion times I've seen this discussed here, the one I think I like the most is this:

An intelligent system is one which can notice patterns in whatever data is has access to, to use those patterns to support inferences, and most particularly, use them to build more patterns.

Don't remember where I got that.

 

[Wowbagger]

The operation of gathering information about an enemy.

 

[Lord Muck oGentry]

The operation of gathering information about an enemy.

Splendid fellow! May you be infinitely prolonged.

 

[Jeff Corey]

Being able to tell the difference between a friend and an enemy would help.

 

[hammegk]

That's where "us" / "them" is so useful.

 

[TimmyBerry]

Intelligence: When you are standing in the middle of a dry corn field, see a field fire in the distance, and decide to get the heck out of there.

Or when you realize that hitting things with sharp/blunt objects makes them die faster.

 

[ynot]

Cleverness is the ability to make weapons of mass destruction, Intelligence is the ability to choosing not to.