Intelligence
When we think of an intelligent person, we all think of different aspects of intelligence. People can be book smart, street smart, good test takers, witty, persuasive, motivational, or effective writers. Its difficult to conclude that just one or any simple combination of these elements is the black and white definition of intelligence. We must explore these definitions, although the identity of intelligence is all in the eye of the beholder. Many psychologists over the years have tried to explain and clarify their interpretation of intelligence. Universally, intelligence is defined as the mental abilities needed to select, adapt to and shape environments. Intelligence involves the abilities to profit from experience, solve problems, reason and successfully meet challenges and achieve goals. If we look at this explanation carefully, its easy to see how many people might not agree. The ability to select an environment is something every person does. We all face simple environmental decisions every day. Whether we go to work, go to the movie, or skip school to do drugs, it is an individual decision. By deciding, does that make us intelligent? This definition says we just need to make environmental decisions, it doesn'
But what does it matter? Sure, you get a nice warm feeling when you get your ACT scores back and see how "intelligent" you are. Do the two traits necessarily correlate? Sometimes they do, but not always. We should begin focusing on figuring out how to achieve that instead of being so wrapped up in finding ways to become more intelligent, measure intelligence, and actually figuring out what intelligence is . " What is the value of intelligence, we might ask. Gardner's definition is a lot more clear, and is more specific when describing intelligence. If it's cold in our house, we turn the heat up. Through our confusion of the actual meaning of intelligence, we judge people and assume things everyday based on their "intelligence. For a teenage girl with anorexia, it may be a challenge to lose five more pounds, and when she loses seven, that is a major achievement. Although I agree the addition of practical intelligence, I don't believe that analytical intelligence should be fused as one idea. Someone could be good at writing, but horrible in math and science. We may not be intelligent in all aspects, but that doesn't mean we don't possess intelligence at all. There are plenty of people out there that are successful, and most importantly, live happy without much intelligence. Intelligent people also have to adapt to and shape environments. Gardner claims that we have several intelligences instead of just an intelligence.
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Acceptance Essays
