The Common Denominator of Intelligence
Wikipedia defines intelligence as “a property of mind that encompasses many related mental abilities, such as the capacities to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend ideas and language, and learn.”
Over the years scholars have debated over the definition and the constituents of intelligence, dissecting and bisecting the existing work and adding new dimensions to it. The single characteristic though that seem to flow through all “intelligent” individuals is undoubtedly their ability to synthesize unrelated or loosely related fields to produce their own novel thought.
Be it arts, science, management or any other field of thought, an individual with above average intelligence is able to comprehend and retain the available stimuli, process is with the existing thoughts and produce an entirely new enchanting point of view. An application of thought is thus the corollary of this common denominator of intelligence.
This can be observed in great scientists who were also philosophers, architects and painters using the spirit of each area in the other, blurring the boundaries to discover new un-ventured territories. This can also be observed in not so famous people, our everyday acquaintances who dabble in multiple areas and bring out the best of all in their own way. So an excellent physical trainer would take the best from tai-chi, yoga, aerobics and pilates to produce her own 60 minute work-out; an accomplished dancer would channelise the finest of salsa, bharatnatyam, kathak and ball room dancing to manufacture her own 15 minute dance form; a true management researcher would solve a human resource or people’s problem using theories from marketing, finance and operations and a great cook would include the best from chinese, continental, mexican and indian food to concatenate her signature recipe. The synthesis in each is unique.
The amalgamation does not stop at related fields. It is also exhibited in relating unrelated fields. So essence of spirituality is displayed in business decisions, the rhythm of music is used in writing computer programs and the knowledge of physics is used in understanding and elaborating religion.
Moreover this multi-faceted application of knowledge is feasible because of an extraordinary ability to be interested in, comprehend, interpret and assimilate almost all the available stimuli in verbal, written or observed form, with a learning curve that is almost vertically steep.
So the next time you observe someone generating a beautiful synergy out of loosely related or unrelated fields you would realize how truly “intelligent” the individual is.
Wikipedia defines intelligence as “a property of mind that encompasses many related mental abilities, such as the capacities to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend ideas and language, and learn.”
Over the years scholars have debated over the definition and the constituents of intelligence, dissecting and bisecting the existing work and adding new dimensions to it. The single characteristic though that seem to flow through all “intelligent” individuals is undoubtedly their ability to synthesize unrelated or loosely related fields to produce their own novel thought.
Be it arts, science, management or any other field of thought, an individual with above average intelligence is able to comprehend and retain the available stimuli, process is with the existing thoughts and produce an entirely new enchanting point of view. An application of thought is thus the corollary of this common denominator of intelligence.
This can be observed in great scientists who were also philosophers, architects and painters using the spirit of each area in the other, blurring the boundaries to discover new un-ventured territories. This can also be observed in not so famous people, our everyday acquaintances who dabble in multiple areas and bring out the best of all in their own way. So an excellent physical trainer would take the best from tai-chi, yoga, aerobics and pilates to produce her own 60 minute work-out; an accomplished dancer would channelise the finest of salsa, bharatnatyam, kathak and ball room dancing to manufacture her own 15 minute dance form; a true management researcher would solve a human resource or people’s problem using theories from marketing, finance and operations and a great cook would include the best from chinese, continental, mexican and indian food to concatenate her signature recipe. The synthesis in each is unique.
The amalgamation does not stop at related fields. It is also exhibited in relating unrelated fields. So essence of spirituality is displayed in business decisions, the rhythm of music is used in writing computer programs and the knowledge of physics is used in understanding and elaborating religion.
Moreover this multi-faceted application of knowledge is feasible because of an extraordinary ability to be interested in, comprehend, interpret and assimilate almost all the available stimuli in verbal, written or observed form, with a learning curve that is almost vertically steep.
So the next time you observe someone generating a beautiful synergy out of loosely related or unrelated fields you would realize how truly “intelligent” the individual is.
posted by Garima at 2:27 PM
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