What kind of person do you consider intelligent?

[pyx]

conceptual ability, analytical ability, factual knowledge, verbal reasoning, etc.

how do you come to conclude that someone is intelligent or not?

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

Almost everyone who ever lived is more intelligent than me and that's all I need to know.

 

[Ihoujin]

Well, all my humble knowledge and intelligence proved useless. So I find good-hearted people trying their best the most intelligent.

 

[derpyderpins]

conceptual ability, analytical ability, factual knowledge, verbal reasoning, etc.

how do you come to conclude that someone is intelligent or not?

I generally won't categorize someone as "not" intelligent. There are many different aspects of intelligence and any person I meet could excel in a different area.

As far as people who stand out to me in their intellect, I value flexibility and adaptability in thinking. Can you change your view over time? Are you able to have a discussion with someone who thinks differently and benefit from it even if your view doesn't change? Having convictions is great but if you can't have discussions where you dig in to the 'why' then they aren't convictions so much as doctrine/code.

Sure you can be "intelligent" if you're young and good at memorizing/taking tests, but the ability to continue growing and improving in many directions so you can face new challenges is what is impressive.

 

[ijustwishtodie]

I think an intelligent person is somebody who is good at problem solving and at understanding difficult concepts

 

[Apathy79]

Yeah I think IQ tests measure intelligence well enough. Some combination of logical reasoning, problem solving and analytical skills. How valuable being intelligent is depends on other things like communication skills, EQ and conscientiousness. Even factual knowledge in some cases. However, I consider these complementary skills to intelligence rather than part of it (despite EQ sometimes being referred to as emotional "intelligence").

 

[EvisceratedJester]

Basically anyone who doesn't think like me (able to quickly grasp difficult concepts, able to apply knowledge in creative ways, good problem-solving skills, good critical thinking skills, good analytical thinking skills, etc).

 

[Lady Laudanum]

Myself. If I wasn't a narcissist I'd be absolutely fucking perfect. /s

Just kidding, don't flame me for my poor attempt at being funny.

 

[sserafim]

I consider people like @dödsängel intelligent. He's an 139 IQ mogger. He IQ mogs me

 

[innominesatanas44]

Smart people don't use the internet over 8hrs a day and have no time to chimp out about politics or redpill every waking moment of existence, I had to learn this the hard way

 

[sserafim]

Smart people don't use the internet over 8hrs a day and have no time to chimp out about politics or redpill every waking moment of existence, I had to learn this the hard way

What about blackpill? Or even whitepill…or goldpill

 

[innominesatanas44]

What about blackpill? Or even whitepill

Any pills. I don't even completely disagree with it, but things which are too unproductive and addictive are a detriment for your sanity, if like me youre already in a suicidal state because of exterior circumstances

 

[lacrimosa]

Everyone is smart in their own way... For example, a truck driver probably knows way more about how to drive safely... especially after their rig jack knifed on black ice and almost slid into oncoming traffic. Then you have the average driver sliding on ice willy nilly without winter tires (whom didn't even bother installing winter tires in the first place).

By the way, this happened to a truck driver friend of mine and he almost died but his safety training/instincts developed from being on the road for years kicked in. He is also one very lucky son of a gun.

Anyways, just goes to show that intelligence is hard to quantify. Even serial killers (scum of the earth) are highly intelligent when it comes to their IQ scores but decided to kill people. Would I consider them smart? Ummmm, not really.

There are many types of intelligence as well - emotional, scientific, practical, etcetera.

But to answer your question, I think that people whom are contributing to society, and have good overall intentions and follow through with them are intelligent or at least admirable to me.

 

[enduringwinter]

No one. No one is intelligent to know me let alone save me. Yes that is my criteria. I can't think of anything else anymore

 

[abe]

The only way of measuring meaningful intelligence (imo) is to look for indications of introspection. Attempts to understand that we are all prisoners of Plato's cave, and that actually it is impossible to live your life to the fullest, as we can't know everything that has ever happened and is happening. The fact is most people believe they are an above-average driver, and most people are religious because their family is religious, and most people vote for a politician because all their friends are voting for them. Cognitive biases are built into our biology as our brain prefers efficiency.

You can be the smartest in your class, or have a 150 IQ, or be the best lawyer, etc. But if you continuously fail to act in ways that demonstrates counter-intuitive thinking, then really are you even living your life? I do think the ability to overcome bodily impulses, which is something that is nurtured (for example, knowing that medicines you hated as a kid are good even though they taste funny so you take them anyway), is the clearest sign of intelligence. A person that maximizes counter-intuitive thinking would then be someone who is always skeptical and curious, both of their own and external thoughts, and that's something you can do anytime regardless of your IQ and experience.

Sorry for my bad english.

 

[derpyderpins]

The only way of measuring meaningful intelligence (imo) is to look for indications of introspection. Attempts to understand that we are all prisoners of Plato's cave, and that actually it is impossible to live your life to the fullest, as we can't know everything that has ever happened and is happening. The fact is most people believe they are an above-average driver, and most people are religious because their family is religious, and most people vote for a politician because all their friends are voting for them. Cognitive biases are built into our biology as our brain prefers efficiency.

You can be the smartest in your class, or have a 150 IQ, or be the best lawyer, etc. But if you continuously fail to act in ways that demonstrates counter-intuitive thinking, then really are you even living your life? I do think the ability to overcome bodily impulses, which is something that is nurtured (for example, knowing that medicines you hated as a kid are good even though they taste funny so you take them anyway), is the clearest sign of intelligence. A person that maximizes counter-intuitive thinking would then be someone who is always skeptical and curious, both of their own and external thoughts, and that's something you can do anytime regardless of your IQ and experience.

Sorry for my bad english.

Awesome first message. Welcome.

This is along the lines of what I was trying to convey, particularly being skeptical, curious, and what I would call active in thinking. Once you believe you know everything you've just condemned yourself to a plateau. Every second is a moment to learn and be humbled.

 

[Fleki]

Anyone who understands even the slightest bit of computer science is a fucking turbogenius to me.

That aside, the people who come off as most intelligent to me are those who can pick up a lot of skills. I'm a utilitarian at heart and I don't find myself caring about what knocking around in people's heads. If you wanna impress me, show me that you understand how to do something difficult. You can be the most socially inept person on earth, but if you're fluent in more than one language, that's enough for me. If you can't even cross-multiply but can still talk your way out of any situation, I'm sold on that too. Being "smart" is kind of an abstract and subjective concept. People are unfathomably complex and I believe most of us are smart in at least one aspect. It's just that a lot of us are dumb as rocks in other ways, and sometimes that's the only part of a person you're ever gonna see. But maybe my perspective is a little skewed because I don't tend to think of myself as a very bright person lol.

FWIW I think IQ is a crock of shit.

 

[pollux]

Intelligent people are the type of people that know what to do when no one, including themselves, know what to do

 

[LaVieEnRose]

Whatever type of people @KuriGohan&Kamehameha and @Pluto and @jar-baby and @Forever Sleep are

 

[Pluto]

 

[3/4Dead]

Tough one. I think that the fact that everyone says I'm very intelligent kinda ruins this for me, and my very bad faith argument is that I have no idea who I'd actually consider intelligent, as I don't think I'm very smart, I just read a lot, so I have a lot of factual knowledge, some of which is kinda outdated so I hesitate to say that even demonstrates "intelligence".

Not to say that if I'm not smart nobody is, because I think people like Stephen Hawking and Einstein are geniuses obviously, but if I had to list criteria for an intelligent person I'd have no clue where to start.

 

[EvisceratedJester]

Basically, anyone who doesn't think like me (able to quickly grasp difficult concepts, able to apply knowledge in creative ways, good problem-solving skills, good critical thinking skills, good analytical thinking skills, etc).

The ability to communicate information efficiently is another point I should have put down here. I think a lot of people tend to fall into the trap of associating people giving needlessly long-winded explanations on topics with intelligence (bonus points if they mention statistics or random scientific concepts) but I think that it usually just means that you don't have a good understanding on what is being talked about and are just reciting information. I know I am guilty of this, but I'm also really fucking dumb so if anything, that just further proves my point.

Sometimes I'll come across posts on here, for example, that are so unnecessarily long and that sometimes even mentions information that barely relates to what is being talked about. In a lot of cases, it feels more like I'm reading something from someone trying to reach a certain word count rather than it being from someone who knows what they are talking about. It only gets worse when they start citing sources from different websites that aren't that credible (like Medium, for example).

Having a good understanding of something is going to partly be reflected in your ability to communicate that knowledge efficiently and effectively.

I also want to quickly specify that I'm not trying to come after any particular members or anything. As I've stated before, even I have found myself doing this before.

 

[Fleki]

I think a lot of people tend to fall into the trap of associating people giving needlessly long-winded explanations on topics with intelligence (bonus points if they mention statistics or random scientific concepts) but I think that it usually just means that you don't have a good understanding on what is being talked about and are just reciting information.

No yeah I feel like people don't tend to realize this. In a casual setting, stuff like this seems to fall on a scale between "I'm reciting Wikipedia" and "I'm using as many words as humanly possible to say nothing at all". I'm also not totally innocent in this regard—I'm a verbose person who struggles to wrap shit up lmao. But yeah people do seem to conflate being able to talk about something at length with having an actual grasp on a subject.

The ability to keep things short and sweet is underappreciated.

 

[Spreadingmywings]

Easy peasy lemon squeezy: a being that has transcended dualities, not attaching themselves to any polarities.

 

[Seered Doom]

I would say everyone has some type of intellect, but for me personally, I would say I would consider an open-minded person to be intelligent because they're able to take in more than one perspective and come to a more informed conclusion on matters.

 

[derpyderpins]

I would say everyone has some type of intellect, but for me personally, I would say I would consider an open-minded person to be intelligent because they're able to take in more than one perspective and come to a more informed conclusion on matters.

Good answer. And one shouldn't confuse being a non-conformist with being open minded. If you just take the unpopular position or always align against the norm that doesn't make you open-minded/intelligent. Open minded really means seeing both sides, even if you instinctually don't like one.

 

[Seered Doom]

Good answer. And one shouldn't confuse being a non-conformist with being open minded. If you just take the unpopular position or always align against the norm that doesn't make you open-minded/intelligent. Open minded really means seeing both sides, even if you instinctually don't like one.

This is true, actually. Being a contrarian doesn't always equate to being intelligent nor open-minded. It just means one holds unpopular opinions. The open-mindedness of hearing different sides and perspectives equally and as unbiased as possible before making a choice makes someone more intelligent in my eyes.

 

[bb3300]

Logical reasoning, those good at math and STEM fields
Those with IQ 125+

 

[4everHeartBroken]

I believe "smart people" are truth seekers. People who question society. The universe. Existence. Reality. Able to admit when they are wrong. Real, not fake.