Obsession with Intelligence

[RabbiO]

What's with this?

Does it matter which group has the most 'intelligence' (usually used in a very limited way to mean most 'scientific knowhow')? Isn't social cohesion a good measure to take, too? Things like how societies treat children, disabled folks etc? Must we judge whole groups based on 'intellect' - in especially a very Western way, that basically equates intellect with logic, biology knowledge etc? Isn't it better that we have one small tribe with superb social cohesion, low crimes rates etc. than a large nationstate full of scientists?

The local authorities won’t allow a wolf pack to move into the neIghborhood.

 

[Rival]

Having a good familial and social network, a sense of community, feeling part of something more than the self and having a sense of security are more important to happiness than 'intelligence'.

Exactly the point I'm trying to make. So why do we shovel so much into 'intelligence'?

 

[Secret Chief]

Imagine the wars that could be waged

 

[We Never Know]

I accept the theory of evolution and I am also a Christian. When those two facts become known, I often appear to lose the respect of people on both sides of the discussion.

I'm sorta of guilty of that. Its not about you accepting both. Its about you dogging people that believe in the same god you believe in.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

What's with this?

Does it matter which group has the most 'intelligence' (usually used in a very limited way to mean most 'scientific knowhow')? Isn't social cohesion a good measure to take, too? Things like how societies treat children, disabled folks etc? Must we judge whole groups based on 'intellect' - in especially a very Western way, that basically equates intellect with logic, biology knowledge etc? Isn't it better that we have one small tribe with superb social cohesion, low crime rates etc. than a large nationstate full of scientists?

I was feeling rather crappy this morning. Your question has given me something to think about. While doing a little background review, I saw several articles about emotional intelligence--the awareness, management and expression of emotion. I am intrigued.

I am feeling better now.

Sometimes a good question is more valuable than all the answers.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Intelligence is the strength that society decided is a bad thing and things intelligent people do aren't good. Like how philosophy will drive you mad, too much knowledge breaks the brain, that things like overthinking stuff is bad, that always thinking and analyzing stuff is bad, and, worst of all, that learning about stuff and finding out what makes it tick is bad because some things should just left be and it's ruining the magic and mystery of stuff. Or they might say "you're too smart for your own good." No, you're too willfully stupid to keep up.

 

[JustGeorge]

Intelligence is the strength that society decided is a bad thing and things intelligent people do aren't good. Like how philosophy will drive you mad, too much knowledge breaks the brain, that things like overthinking stuff is bad, that always thinking and analyzing stuff is bad, and, worst of all, that learning about stuff and finding out what makes it tick is bad because some things should just left be and it's ruining the magic and mystery of stuff. Or they might say "you're too smart for your own good." No, you're too willfully stupid to keep up.

I think some of that depends on what society you're in. This is definitely true in some places, but in other places, the opposite is true.

 

[Rival]

Intelligence is the strength that society decided is a bad thing and things intelligent people do aren't good. Like how philosophy will drive you mad, too much knowledge breaks the brain, that things like overthinking stuff is bad, that always thinking and analyzing stuff is bad, and, worst of all, that learning about stuff and finding out what makes it tick is bad because some things should just left be and it's ruining the magic and mystery of stuff. Or they might say "you're too smart for your own good." No, you're too willfully stupid to keep up.

Not heard anything like this I must say lol.

One of my points would be why do western nations think every other nation should be as 'advanced' as they are? Who cares if you use an ox plough or a tractor?

 

[JustGeorge]

Not heard anything like this I must say lol.

One of my points would be why do western nations think every other nation should be as 'advanced' as they are?

What's advanced, anyways?

My friend from Mali would tell me how you could knock on a stranger's door there, and ask for water(and would be given a drink). Do that in the US, you're going to get the cops called on you. How advanced is that?

I'm not saying Mali is without problems(all countries have them), I just think we put our eggs in the wrong baskets.

 

[Rival]

What's advanced, anyways?

Exactly.

 

[Revoltingest]

Intelligence is useful, but what I really need is a haircut.

 

[Secret Chief]

One of my points would be why do western nations think every other nation should be as 'advanced' as they are? Who cares if you use an ox plough or a tractor?

To be fair, it's good that there are less advanced peoples - they are far easier to deceive, pillage and exterminate.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I'm talking about the obsession with academic education/intelligence etc.

Like the ridiculously complex languages associated with academia that can border on being notably bizarre?

 

[Hockeycowboy]

But, at the baseline, do we need to know how, say, viruses work to be happy? We went millennia without knowing so much as we do now and have this idea that societies with more knowledge are somehow better societies and I don't see how.

I agree. Though I think wisdom plays a bigger role here.
Wisdom being the use of what we know to our benefit.
There’s a proverb that says, “wisdom...preserves alive its owner.”

 

[Secret Chief]

do we need to know how, say, viruses work to be happy?

As a society yes. It's hard to be happy if you're dead.
But as an individual, clearly not.

 

[Brickjectivity]

What's with this?

Does it matter which group has the most 'intelligence' (usually used in a very limited way to mean most 'scientific knowhow')? Isn't social cohesion a good measure to take, too? Things like how societies treat children, disabled folks etc? Must we judge whole groups based on 'intellect' - in especially a very Western way, that basically equates intellect with logic, biology knowledge etc? Isn't it better that we have one small tribe with superb social cohesion, low crime rates etc. than a large nationstate full of scientists?

I think its directly related to how populous it is, how tightly everyone has to fit. In very competitive places life can be very harsh for someone who isn't the best at something. Sometimes people just don't fit in unless they have a unique skill to contribute, and that works out to just about everybody. Almost nobody has a unique skill, so most feel like outcasts in places with high populations.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I think some of that depends on what society you're in. This is definitely true in some places, but in other places, the opposite is true.

I heard it all the time in Indiana, and not just from dogmatic conservative Christians trying to shield their faith. For me, college was a safe haven where I could let my mind run free without anyone thinking there was some problem with always thinking about things and questioning things. For the most part anyways. I knew one lady, atheist and psych major, who warned me about "all the philosophy," believing it caused her brother's mental illnesses. And, of course Hitler was so intelligent it drove him mad. As did, they claim, the artist who in reality are just the ones they can name though they also claim it's "all the greats."

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Not heard anything like this I must say lol.

Smuggle me in there as a refuge?

One of my points would be why do western nations think every other nation should be as 'advanced' as they are? Who cares if you use an ox plough or a tractor?

I blame the Gospels. It's the good news that everyone has to hear and everyone needs and everyone needs to follow. And it does ignite some nasty holier-than-thou tendencies, and the assumption of supremacy and superiority seemed to extend to other facets of culture.

 

[Gargovic Malkav]

What's with this?

Does it matter which group has the most 'intelligence' (usually used in a very limited way to mean most 'scientific knowhow')? Isn't social cohesion a good measure to take, too? Things like how societies treat children, disabled folks etc? Must we judge whole groups based on 'intellect' - in especially a very Western way, that basically equates intellect with logic, biology knowledge etc? Isn't it better that we have one small tribe with superb social cohesion, low crime rates etc. than a large nationstate full of scientists?

It's not only an obsession with intelligence imo, but a chronic longing for greener pastures; an insatiable need for new stuff and challenges.
Those who don't "evolve" are often judged.
Horseshoe crabs are one of the most old school animals still around, and the only reason why their status is getting worse is because of human development, not because of their primitivity.

 

[JustGeorge]

I heard it all the time in Indiana, and not just from dogmatic conservative Christians trying to shield their faith. For me, college was a safe haven where I could let my mind run free without anyone thinking there was some problem with always thinking about things and questioning things. For the most part anyways. I knew one lady, atheist and psych major, who warned me about "all the philosophy," believing it caused her brother's mental illnesses. And, of course Hitler was so intelligent it drove him mad. As did, they claim, the artist who in reality are just the ones they can name though they also claim it's "all the greats."

Wow, I think we've finally found a big difference between Indiana and Iowa! Its kind of the opposite here. If you devote any time to anything that isn't education/career oriented, you're generally told you're wasting your time(or even your life), unless you've managed to cut yourself into a private group that feels otherwise.

In the end, its seldom about a love for learning but a desire for greater earning capacity(here).