intelligence noun (From Latin intellegentia; inter-"between" + legere-"choose, pick out, read" inter-lege-nt-ia, literally "choosing between").Intelligence is the ability to make fine distinctions. The finer the distinctions you are able to make, the more intelligent you are. This is why someone who is intelligent is called "sharp." Just as a sharp knife is better at cutting a thing in half, a "sharp" person is able to make subtle distinctions between two seemingly similar things.
Capacity of mind, especially to understand principles, truths, facts or meanings, acquire knowledge, and apply it to practise; the ability to learn and comprehend.
-Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Nothing in this world is entirely one way or the other. It all depends on context. In this situation it's this way and in the other situation, it's the opposite. An intelligent person is one who resists the urge to generalize, to pile everything up in one corner. Because in reality, it depends. It always depends what situation you're talking about. The Brisker school of thought is synonymous with intelligence, because it is known for solving conflicting statements by using qualifiers. The concept is broken down into two component parts e.g the cheftza and the gavra, which can then have differing characteristics.
You must determine the precise difinition. What are the conceptual boundaries. It is often not as simple as it seems. Sometimes a broad rule is applicable, but other times, each case is different. Only then can concepts be properly applied, or even truly understood.
2 comments:
Mazel tov on the successful launch of this new blog. I found it to be very interesting and thought provoking.
With respect to the article "What is intelligence?" are we ever confronted with having to use an ax instead of a knife? How will we know, Hasidic Rambler?
Thank you for your congratulations. Rambler is very proud. You are the first comment he has received and it is very flattering.
In response to your question: If you are lost in the middle of the forest with nothing but an axe, you may be forced to use it. The point made in the article was that a sharper blade is easier to cut with. The Rambler once tried cutting paper with a dull pair of scissors and it didn't cut. It was a very frustrating experience. If you ever plan on being lost in the middle of the forest, make sure that you bring the sharpest axe possible. A dull blade makes chopping firewood very frustrating.
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