Intelligence is an umbrella term used to describe a property of the mind that encompasses many related abilities, such as the capacities to reason, to plan, to solve problems, to think abstractly, to comprehend ideas, to use language, and to learn. There are several ways to define intelligence. In some cases, intelligence may include traits such as creativity, personality, character, knowledge, or wisdom. However, most psychologists prefer not to include these traits in the definition of intelligence.

Theories of intelligence can be divided into those based on a unilinear construct of general intelligence and those based on multiple intelligences. Francis Galton, influenced by his cousin Charles Darwin, was the first to advance a theory of general intelligence. For Galton, intelligence was a real faculty with a biological basis that could be studied by measuring reaction times to certain cognitive tasks. Galton's research on measuring the head size of British scientists and ordinary citizens led to the conclusion that head size had no relationship with the person's intelligence.

Alfred Binet and the French school of intelligence believed that intelligence was an average of numerous dissimilar abilities, rather than a unitary entity with specific identifiable properties. The Stanford-Binet intelligence test has been used by both theorists of general intelligence and multiple intelligence.

Intelligence is 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.

Contents

• 1 Sourced
• 2 Unsourced
• 3 See also
• 4 External links

Sourced

• Mad, adj. Affected with a high degree of intellectual independence.
  • Ambrose Bierce Devil's Dictionary (1911)

• She should be my counsellor, But not my tyrant. For the spirit needs Impulses from a deeper source than hers; And there are motions, in the mind of man, That she must look upon with awe.
  • William Cullen Bryant, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 353.

• Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as strong to think.
  • Ralph Waldo Emerson, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 353.

• The test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.
  • "Handle With Care", Esquire Magazine (March 1936).

• Advertising may be described as the science of arresting human intelligence long enough to get money from it.
  • Garden of Folly, "The Perfect Salesman" (1924)

• An ounce of prudence is worth a pound of cleverness.
  • Baltasar Gracián. In Maxim 92, The Art of Worldly Wisdom (1647)

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Sat Jul 11 15:15:25 2009