Intelligence of a leader

[idav]

What level of intelligence is preferred in a leader of a nation?

 

[Quintessence]

Intelligence regarding what?

 

[idav]

Intelligence regarding what?

Not really a knowledge thing but like IQ. Average intelligence is 100.

 

[4consideration]

The level of intelligence to realize that an honest reporting, assessing and addressing of the reality is the first step to coming to a workable solution to the problems of reality -- whatever level of intelligence that works out to be.

 

[idav]

When I think of a super genius being president I end up picturing some sort of super villain.

 

[4consideration]

When I think of a super genius being president I end up picturing some sort of super villain.

Yeah, when I think of it that way, I agree. (Why else would a super genius want that job?)

 

[YmirGF]

Average intelligence is 100.

Is this true? I think I can muster a solid 120 in a drunken stupor.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

I think I'd have to agree with Plato, in that philosophers should be the rulers of a nation.

 

[idav]

Yeah, when I think of it that way, I agree. (Why else would a super genius want that job?)

Probably to try and take over the world.

Is this true? I think I can muster a solid 120 in a drunken stupor.

Cool, above average even in a stupor. Impressive.

I think I'd have to agree with Plato, in that philosophers should be the rulers of a nation.

Interesting. What do you figure the average intelligence of a philosopher.

 

[Alceste]

A person has to appear to me to be as smart as I am or smarter to earn my respect and / or support. I reckon that's the same for everyone, although as a species we're not very good at recognizing competence.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

Interesting. What do you figure the average intelligence of a philosopher.

Not sure, but it's not their intelligence that I think would make them great leaders, it's the fact that they're willing to think things through, to analyze things, instead of acting on mere belief or emotion. But, I'm willing to bet that their 'average intelligence' is much higher than most people's.

 

[idav]

Some interesting results. Just to throw this out therefrom some IQ site. The likes of ben franklin was above average by todays standards. High intelligence gives you the likes of Bill Gates.

 

[YmirGF]

Some interesting results. Just to throw this out therefrom some IQ site. The likes of ben franklin was above average by todays standards. High intelligence gives you the likes of Bill Gates.

I think, personally speaking, that having someone of extraordinary intelligence leading the nation may not be as wise an idea as it might seem. The problem is that the super-brain cannot really relate to those lower down the food chain. If anything, I would want a clever leader, but not a brilliant leader, as the brilliant leader/tactician/what have you may not understand the plight of those he/she is leading at all well - intellectually, perhaps, but in day to day, in the trenches terms - not a chance.

 

[dust1n]

It seems natural to want to have one defining element of a person to find out if they are worthy of leading millions of people, but, in actuality, it's just not ever going to be that simple.

 

[Quintessence]

Not really a knowledge thing but like IQ. Average intelligence is 100.

In that case, so long as they're not mentally retarded, whatever. I'm skeptical that something like IQ actually measures the attributes relevant to being a good leader. It's not, for example, measuring "emotional intelligence" which is vital to good interpersonal skills. This is why I asked intelligence regarding what, exactly. I don't care if you're some super genius if you have the charisma of a pancake. Imagine how terrible THAT is going to be for international relations.

 

[sandandfoam]

It seems that in my country we have an affinity for having morons as our leaders.

 

[Draka]

I think, personally speaking, that having someone of extraordinary intelligence leading the nation may not be as wise an idea as it might seem. The problem is that the super-brain cannot really relate to those lower down the food chain. If anything, I would want a clever leader, but not a brilliant leader, as the brilliant leader/tactician/what have you may not understand the plight of those he/she is leading at all well - intellectually, perhaps, but in day to day, in the trenches terms - not a chance.

Hmm, for an excellent example...picture Sheldon as our leader. What? Wouldn't work well? But...he has an IQ of 187 right?

Okay, I admit it, I'm scattered. Always have been. I may not be the best choice either

 

[Falvlun]

I think, personally speaking, that having someone of extraordinary intelligence leading the nation may not be as wise an idea as it might seem. The problem is that the super-brain cannot really relate to those lower down the food chain. If anything, I would want a clever leader, but not a brilliant leader, as the brilliant leader/tactician/what have you may not understand the plight of those he/she is leading at all well - intellectually, perhaps, but in day to day, in the trenches terms - not a chance.

I agree. I want my leader to be a smart person, intellectually and academically. But s/he also needs to have a healthy dose of common sense "street smarts", as well as well developed social skills.

 

[Alceste]

Hmm, for an excellent example...picture Sheldon as our leader. What? Wouldn't work well? But...he has an IQ of 187 right?

Okay, I admit it, I'm scattered. Always have been. I may not be the best choice either

Boy, do I ever hate that show. It perpetuates a stereotype of people with high IQs as unattractive dorks with no social skills or fashion sense. Nobody I know with a really high IQ is anything like that. They get laid all the time.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I think I'd have to agree with Plato, in that philosophers should be the rulers of a nation.

What if there are many philosophers at one time? Which philosopher rules? It'd just revert back to how it is now, except replace political knowledge with philosophical. I'd say it's albeit senseless to replace politics with philosophy.