Intelligence

If intelligence is defined as the capacity to conceptualize the world inside and outside oneself, and effectively navigate and manipulate those worlds to one's advantage, I think we have a wise definition, if not a comprehensive one.

An otter has the ability to conceptualize its world and manipulate it to meet its needs. An otter uses rocks from the ocean floor as a hammer to crack open shells which it places on its tummy. We cannot know if the otter has anything akin to language in its brain to represent "rock" or "shellfish". We do know feral children (raised without human nurturing in the wild) are documented as having similar capacity as the otter to manipulate their world to meet their needs, though their exposure to language was minimal, if at all. However, the difference between a feral child and one raised with language in the context of a human society, is vast.

Language is a tool to represent, among other things, concepts which cannot be directly experienced by the senses. Compound interest on money cannot be directly experienced by the senses. It is a concept representing relationships of agreement of a mathematical nature, which stipulates the price of the future value and opportunity cost of lending money to someone else. Without language, compound interest as a concept, could not exist.

Language therefore, is integral to intelligence. The more adept one is with language, the more control one has over their relationship with the world around them, and the more benefit they can derive from that relationship. Using money as an example, again, consider the following.

I don't know what compound interest is. My friend asks me to loan them $100 for a year. Now, if my wish is to both help my friend and be fair to myself, I need to know about the future value of money, and opportunity cost of being without that $100 for a year. I can loan my friend the $100 for a year with the condition that they pay back $100 on or before 365 days have passed. That would make me a generous and helpful friend. But, not a very wise or smart one, again, if my goal is a win-win outcome for both of us.

During that year I am without my $100, I will have to forego investing that $100 and turning it into $110 at the end of the year, or, if I have need to borrow $100 from someone else to acquire something I need like a repair on my car, I will have to pay interest to the person I borrow from. And, if the inflation rate is 3%, the $100 I get back from my friend a year later will only buy $97 worth of goods and services ($100 less 3% or, $3.) Therefore, at the end of the year, when I get my $100 back, and if I have had to borrow $100 during the year at 12% interest, I will in reality, not be $100 wealthier, but only about $80 restored. The compound interest at 12% on my loan will have cost me $17 over the year, and the inflation of 3% will have cost me another $3. Loaning out a $100 bill and getting only $80 in buying power back at the end of the year, is neither wise, intelligent, nor a win-win situation for my friend and I. My friend wins, and I lose on this deal.

This example illustrates the power lost or gained by language, the tool needed to insure that this loan arrangement results in a positive benefit for both my friend and myself. If I don't know the math behind compounding interest, or the meaning of future value of money, or what opportunity cost means, I will not be able to engage in financial arrangements which benefit me, knowingly, or wisely.

Intelligence, is to a very large degree, dependent upon our language skills and breadth. I am brought to this topic my daughter's graduation from high school and finding her dictionary buried in her closet, even as she reads every night before going to sleep. Young people tend toward the easiest route from A to B. My daughter is no exception. She relies on osmosis too often for language learning. She can read science fiction and suspense novels, deriving the enjoyment of the author's story, even as she passes by those words and concepts which are new to her, and for which she has no definition in her head. It is the easiest route from page one to the last page of the book, and passing the time en route toward sleep.

But, she is neither expanding her vocabulary, nor increasing her intelligence to the potential the book would permit, were she to access her dictionary for words and concepts she does not explicitly understand. In passing over those words and concepts, she is in fact passing over opportunities to expand her intelligence, and control over her relationship with the world, presently, and into the future.

Now, to be fair, my daughter reads in bed, because it puts her to sleep. She is also capable of reading during the day and often did refer to her dictionary during her daytime reading, when in school. She has this notion however, that school's out for Summer. She could not be more wrong. Every day of life is either a captured or, wasted opportunity to learn. To expand one's intelligence by expanding one's precision with word definitions and concepts, is truly the gift one gives oneself, which keeps on giving throughout our lives.

Consider that the following are words, acronyms, and concepts which are shaping our world as I type, and ask, is the world passing me by, or, am I staying in control of my world by expanding my vocabulary and definitions so that I can have a say in what takes place in it?

DNA, RNA, bio-ethics, string theory, centralized vs. decentralized command structures, enlightened self-interest vs. selfish interest, cyber-crime, cybernetics, digital revolution, credit default swaps, hedge fund, comparative economics, and my favorites on this week's list, acupuncture and nerve induction.

Everywhere I turn these days, I hear folks brandishing words around which they clearly do not know the meaning of, as evidenced by the context and application to which they apply. Words like socialist, fascist, capitalist, racist, liberal, conservative, doctrine, empirical, logic, rational, reason, are all used daily in America between Americans, and yet, more than half of those brandishing such words, if asked to define them, could not do so with any accuracy or precision.

Is it wise for any nation or people who aspire to self-determination of their fate, to engage in repeated displays of what they don't know, while pretending to themselves and others, that they do? If there is only one great thing I accomplish this year, it will be to motivate my daughter to carry a pocket dictionary with her, wherever she may find herself reading, anything.

Intelligence is something we all have in varying amounts. Intelligence is something we can all acquire more of, if we expand our vocabulary and mental dictionary of concepts. Intelligence is something one cannot have in excess.

Intelligence depends upon language in modern society. Intelligence is not wisdom. But, it is unwise to pass up opportunities to become more intelligent by becoming better skilled with the primary tool of intelligence, language. Looking up words and their definition is actually fun and an empowering exercise which takes but seconds at a time. Make it a habit, and increasing one's intelligence becomes second nature.