We have heard our teachers calling some students intelligent and others dull- minded. We hear the term ‘intelligence’ used by people from different sectors. But, is the connotation of their use appropriate? Whom should we call the intelligent? Is someone who scores the highest in the aptitude or I.Q test intelligent? People in general consider this to be true. Intelligence is measured through by an academician by questions set by the academicians . I think that the meaning of intelligence is not scientific. A person can be intelligent in one aspect whereas he may not be intelligent in other aspects. A person good in mathematics may not be as good in literature. Our teachers believe that those intelligent are good in all the subjects. I do not subscribe to this assumption.
I completely agree with the great science fiction writer, Isaac Asimov who said that human beings cannot be placed on a one-dimensional intelligence scale; that they are all made up of a unique mixture of intelligence and stupidity. A man may be intelligent as a high test scorer, but it does not mean that he can be good at repairing his car or farming or repairing his doors. It is said that an intelligent person tries to be extra smart and thus fails even to answer a minor question.
Intelligence is not absolute rather it is relative. Even intelligent men many appear stupid during some occasions. My thought rests here that intelligence cannot be placed on a one-dimensional scale.
Traditional concept of ‘intelligence’ is that the person being tested knows all kinds of subjects and can give answers to all kinds of questions and can do things by himself. But is this possible? Are the intelligent ones so many that we use the term to describe a large number of people? Intelligence is a divine gift which is possessed by a small number of people. I think an intelligent person is quick-minded, clever and smart.
Most of the academicians, including myself, categorize people into three categories. First, the intelligent ones, who are very few and are naturally gifted; second, the hard working ones, who labor and practice hard; and the hird kind are the dull minded ones who are slow learners. The point I’m trying to make is that we use the term intelligent in a wider spectrum. Hard working people are often labeled as intelligent. What we have to understand is that intelligent people are very few and rare and intelligence does not mean knowing all subjects and answering all questions. It is a relative term, not absolute and people should not be placed
Ken Subedi
on a one-dimensional intelligence scale.
The writer works as a coordinator of Progressive Literary Society and is a student at K & K International College.
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