First, yes, I recognize intelligence is a vast and varied thing. But, I know that YOU know what I’m asking. Second, this could be answered any way you want. Third and finally, if you’re going to tell me to read more, recommend specific literature.
Ask questions that shows tracking and curiosity.
Acknowledgement of the limits of their knowledge is the most important trait of an intelligent person.
That and a bit of self reflection. I dunno it just seems important somehow, and shows that they consider a few angles.
Thats huge in my opinion
They can argue their point and explain themselfs. They can see things from a neutral point even if they are a participant on one side. They dont put new/differences from what they are used to, off as “stupid” or “dumb” right away.
Empathy is a big sign of intelligence in my book
If they admit they don’t know stuff and ask smart questions, they are intelligent.
If they pretend to know, they aren’t smart.
For me, intelligence isn’t about what someone knows - it’s about how they think. There’s no single thing someone could say or do that would instantly make me see them as intelligent. It would have to be the consistent demonstration of logical, rational thinking over a long stretch of time.
Frankly, it’s way easier to spot stupidity, and a huge number of people can hardly wait to broadcast their ignorance.
Yeah I’d agree 100%
They know what questions to ask when dealing with a subject they don’t know about.
Good one
Honestly, for me, it’s when someone knows when to keep their mouth shut or opinions to themselves. I could, in theory, consider the dumbest person in the world “intelligent” so long as they don’t open their dumb mouth and make situations worse.
Basically, any idiot can speak, but it takes intelligence and/or wisdom to know when not to.
I really like that answer.
I have kids & step kids and kids my husband previously adopted and they are intelligent in different ways. Only one had some developmental delays and is not, she struggles, the rest - 3 academic hyper achievers, quick thinking and quick at learning new things, all ended up scientists of some sort. Two who are hardworking and think they are not as smart but whenever they have to take a test they score in top 10% or so, those two ended up in military intelligence. Youngest kid still in school can see things in different ways - can find solutions or ideas none of us even think of, and though they ALSO don’t think they are as smart as the others, I personally consider that to be very intelligent. One who was smart & frustrated, depressed, and no longer with us - saw too much I think but could not find hope. So different people are smart in different ways, and sometimes in ways that are not helpful to them.
If I had to choose one quality - it’s humor. That ability to say just the right thing in the moment that is so funny. That quick wit is a good sign of intelligence.
Being able to reason from different perspectives, to change their worldview due to new experiences or arguments, the ability to adapt to different circumstances.
Id definitely agree
When people admit to being wrong or can laugh at themselves/give others grace for doing something stupid, instead of getting super defensive or nitpicky about it (which is not an easy thing for humans to do) I’m always left with a sense of admiration.
Like we always grow up hearing about how everybody is smart/talented in their own way. To an extent, I honestly believe that’s true.
But I also believe the reverse is true. We’re all very dumb in our own unique way. That’s not to say there aren’t general levels of intelligence and stupidity, or that anything is predetermined. Just that you would have to be pretty stupid to believe you’re exceptionally talented or gifted in every possible way.
It’s not easy to accept about ourselves, but most people seem to understand that, at least to some extent. There are some very special people that seem determined to dedicate their lives making sure there can be no doubt about their capabilities and skills, whether it’s intellect in the traditional sense or anything else.
Behind Kim Jong Il’s Famous Round of Golf
Checking on others comfort or thoughts. Looking out for their friends. Being nice to service staff. I measure intelligence based on how they treat people close to them. And how they treat people who they would gain nothing from.
Seems like the same answer I got when I asked about “good” people
Not for me, but for many people (especially on the internet) intelligence is the same thing as being good. I probably would have given a different answer for that if I saw the thread
Reasonable
Your turn! What do you consider an intelligent person? (This thread is Aristotle-coded BTW)
I’d echo some of the things said. Simple list would be, curiosity, knowing when you dont know/being able to admit it, ability to speak well (not necessarily tied to socializing but being able to communicate thought/ideas/theories easily), ability to explain complex topics in simple terms, speed in which you can learn new topics and ability to memorize information. The list definitely goes on but thats a pretty good summary of my thoughts.
Good answers, I hadn’t considered social skills kind of are intelligence
Yeah I don’t necessarily mean ability to be charismatic. Moreso just that they can communicate whatever their discipline of expertise is well.
For me the most important marks of an intelligent person are, similar to other responses in this thread, the ability to entertain a thought without accepting it, and the willingness to update your beliefs when confronted with convincing evidence.
All too often on Lemmy we see people immediately jumping to one side of an issue or the other as a knee-jerk reaction, uncritically parroting their side’s talking points and lambasting anyone with the audacity to disagree without even listening to what they have to say. The comments that get my strongest upvotes are the ones that go against the grain of a thread while also bringing up additional relevant information or perspectives. Not because they’re necessarily right, but because they’re positively contributing to a thread in a way that circlejerking doesn’t.
And no, this doesn’t mean that the enlightened centrist take is necessarily the correct one, but it does mean that you should at least consider counterarguments to your position.
And while yes, sealioning exists, I see Lemmings talking past each other far more often than I see them constructively engaging with each other when they disagree.
And “updating your beliefs” doesn’t need to mean “completely changing your mind about something” (though that should always be a possibility). It can mean adding nuance to your position, or replacing one peripheral idea with another.
As a random example, acknowledging that AI does have a few genuinely useful use cases doesn’t mean that its current implementation isn’t also mostly a dystopian and environmental disaster. This nuance helps ensure that we take the right action in addressing the problem, instead of a knee-jerk blanket response that, while popular, might end up being just as harmful as the status quo.
While I think Lemmings in general are a good deal smarter (or at least more educated) than the average person, I honestly don’t think they’re all that much more intelligent.
When they’re curious and quick to acknowledge the limits of their own knowledge.
Someone who’s truly intelligent knows there’s always more they could learn, especially when it comes to their area of expertise.
Absolutely agree
“Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.”
True answer
Being able to admit fault, admit being wrong, updating their worldview, emotional regulation.
You’ve probably all encountered the kind of person who when challenged has a whole melt down. You say something like “I’m not eating meat today because it’s bad for the environment and animals” and they have a whole name-calling meltdown. Too stupid to handle their sense of being good person threatened.
Yeah, knowing when you should not to speak is usually more telling than knowing when you should.
