Mike Guzman by HuJEMt


									                                                              The Nature of Intelligence   1

Running head: The Nature of Intelligence

                      The Nature of Intelligence: Human Minds in Mind

                                       Mike Guzman

                                    Creighton University
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The nature of human intelligence is highly contested, highly theoretical, difficult to examine, and

probably impossible to prove in any definitive manner. It is highly unlikely that any major

resolution could be made regarding intelligence that would leave every mind satisfied and duly

justified. In the following paper, a meager attempt will be made to draw up a composite view of

human intelligence that is conferrable to building a window pane to a fifth dimension and

expecting to see something that would fit the mind’s eye. The reality of intelligence may lie in its

indefinite composition, but, then again, even to define it as indefinite is, like other theories,

simply an educated guess.
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                                     The Nature of Intelligence

        There is no such thing as the boogeyman, the tooth fairy, or Santa Claus. The world

would be much easier and better if the three did exist. Christmas would be free, poor dental

hygiene would be a major career field, and children would never misbehave again, facing

parental threats of leaving the closet open. Each of these three figments of the imagination lacks

a definite existence but still maintains a very real presence. Santa Claus has songs written about

him and is a lucrative industry, the tooth fairy still supplements allowances, and the boogeyman

runs up a monstrous energy bill in night lights. Something that lacks a definite presence can

obviously still exist. Unfortunately, as much as the world could use a standard and impenetrable

definition of human intelligence, trying to make intelligence a proverbial cookie of sorts waiting

to be discovered in an equally proverbial jar is like trying to rob the tooth fairy.


        The true nature of intelligence can be understood only by viewing it from multiple

perspectives, each perspective with its own unique aspects and deficiencies. Together, these

views weave a mind’s eye most similar to the overall mechanics of the human mind. Though the

findings and results of these varying theories may conclude a rather comprehensive view of a

very fluid subject matter, one should not mistake such a view for an intransigent definer of

intelligence as a corporal entity. Intelligence is not corporal, intransigent, or determined.

        In this paper, a variety of theories will be examined side by side to show both correlation

and opposition to one another. It is hoped that this paper will make it easier to grasp the concept

of the nature of intelligence as well as its relation to the theories that bind it to our understanding.

It is impossible to truly know the nature of existence, but, by embracing the many possible ways

to view it, it may be possible to more thoroughly understand it.
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                                    Cooperation Over Isolation

       Isolating a theory of intelligence may close just as many doors as it opens. By stating that

one has found the beat-all mechanic(s) of the human mind more readily rallies opposition than

agreement. Concerning a matter such as intelligence, it is important to realize that each view

offers its own intriguing characteristics. Applying a single theory or excluding a plausible and

well-researched theory only limits one’s ability to come to an understanding of how human

intelligence operates. By embracing seemingly opposed theories, such as that of the general

intelligence factor and the theory of multiple intelligences, one learns more through a

cooperation of perspectives than what is possible through isolating a definition of intelligence.

                                 General and Multiple Intelligences

       Ian J. Deary (2001) summarizes the general intelligence factor in the first chapter of his

book. Throughout this chapter, different and varyingly reliable studies performed alluded to a

strong presence of the “g” factor. The g factor intrinsically encompasses a base theory of

multiple intelligences simply by saying that there are facets to be controlled in the first place.

However, it goes further to define them as all related to the overall capacity of an individual’s

intelligence. Deary (2001) states, “it became clear by the 1940s that, whenever a group of people

was tested on a collection of mental tests, the correlations among the test scores were almost

entirely positive” (p. 12) followed by the assumption that, “the general factor in mental ability

was a significant, inescapable fact.” (pp. 12-13).

       Howard Gardner (1998) posits that there are multiple and uniquely independent

intelligences, a stance directly opposite of the theory of general intelligence. Gardner believed

that eight facets of human intelligence existed independent of a g factor. By claiming this, one

might assume that subscribers to the g factor could easily say that Gardner oversteps the bounds
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of the idea of intellect and describes things that may not be facets of intelligence at all such as

bodily-kinetic intelligence. However, Gardner’s separate intelligences are held to strict criteria

that leaves little doubt as to their independence. Such criteria include isolation by brain damage,

presence in savant syndromes, and a distinct individual development history of a particular

intelligence. Given these as the precepts for Gardner’s separate categories, it is very plausible to

say that Gardner is correct and believers of the g factor are misled.


       The g factor is an intriguing presence that cannot be discounted. The theory of multiple

intelligences that Gardner stated, though in direct opposition to the well supported g factor

theory, also holds credible ground in the study of human intelligence nature. How can two

diametrically opposed theories be equally plausible, respectively affirmed by tests, and still

uncompromising regarding the other? In that question may lie the trickiest view of intelligence.

For intelligence to be defined by two uncompromisingly different viewpoints, it would need to

be a paradox. A paradox cannot exist as an absolute. One cannot hold a paradox in the hand or

explain a clear path through it. It is a self-contradiction. Intelligence being both multifaceted and

unified at once, justly crediting both theories for their experimental validity, leads to the true

nature of human intellect. It does not exist.

       Like the tooth fairy, boogeyman, and Santa Claus, intelligence lacks a corporal existence.

It therefore has no true nature. However, if asked to describe any of the four, an endless myriad

of descriptions/theories, opposing and alike, could be made. Such is the nature of the nature of

human intelligence. Given the way the human mind operates, holding such a capacity for

creativity and expansion, it is only fitting that its nature is imaginary and boundless, subject only

to the limits of our imposable views.
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Deary, I. J. (2001). Intelligence: A very short introduction. New York, NY: Oxford.

Gardner, H. (1998). A multiplicity of intelligences. Scientific American, 9, 19-23.

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