The Concept of Intelligence
ABSTRACT: Gilbert Ryle’s dispositional analysis of the concept of intelligence makes the error of assimilating intelligence to the category of dispositional or semi-dispositional concepts. Far from being a dispositional concept, intelligence is an episodic concept that refers neither to dispositions nor to ‘knowing how,’ but to a fashion or style of proceeding whose significance is adverbial. Being derivative from the function of the adverb ‘intelligently,’ the concept of intelligence does not have essential reference to specific verbs but rather to the manner or style of proceeding of nearly any verb that is descriptive of the proceedings of an agent. Intelligence- words are expressive of a manner of doing things that may be narrated in one of two ways. The first takes the form of a series of contrasts which, when put together as a list of disjuncts, may be called the contrast-criteria of intelligence. The second may take the form of the characteristic activities which comprise the criteria of intelligence.
This subject is but a small part of the larger issue that is waged between dualists and materialists: whether the words used to ascribe mental qualities have a physical or "psychological" reference. Much of the literature concerned with this broader topic takes on the character of a general broadside against either the materialist or dualist position. When specific qualities of our mental life are discussed, it is discussed either in passing, or to make certain that they be assimiable to the general thesis being propounded. When Gilbert Ryle wrote of intelligence,(1) he was interested in making it out to be a dispositional concept (his technique for refuting dualism). Ryle's fear seemed to ...
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...ire, (1949-1950, 242).
(4) Ibid., 247
(5) Ibid.
(6) If such limits of application exist, they would constitute a basis for the rejection of Ryle's claim that the dispositional concept of intelligence is determinable rather than determinate.
(7) "Not merely do adverbial expressions pick out classes of action, they also pick out the internal details of the machinery of doing actions, or the departments into which the business of doing actions is organized."Austin, (1970, 193).
(8) It is because of a failure to set limits (as in Ryle's description of "intelligent" as a determinable disposition) that the concept of intelligence becomes so easily confused with such concepts as learning and "know-how" in the minds of some philosophers (and I may add, psychologists) to the extent that they fail to see some rather obvious differences that exist between them.
Despite the fact that from May 2009 - February 2010, in Contra Costa County alone, there were 9 sudden cardiac arrests experienced by children and youth, there is no standard curriculum in place at school for youth and their parents to learn lifesaving CPR skills. The youngest was 10 years of age and the oldest was 17, which resulted in 4 deaths and 5 saved lives (Darius Jones Foundation, 2011). In each case, there was a direct correlation between bystander use of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and those children who survived.
Having no sleep can lead to unhealthy lives, relationships, one’s ability to function and interact with the world, and an unbalanced state of body, mind, and spirit. Sleep is crucial to an individual because it is a time where the body rests and restores energy and develops important information and without sleep, the body will slowly disintegrate. Poor sleep quality often is associated with Insomnia, but the two are two different items. Poor sleep quality is where an individual does not get at least 4 hours of sleep, but is still able to sleep and does not have a normal sleeping cycle. Insomnia is classified as a sleeping disorder, where one persistently lacks the ability to sleep or maintain sleep. This paper goes into a deep discussion of what Insomnia is and the two different types, the causes of Insomnia and how it affects a person’s lifestyle, a comparison between Men and Women who have Insomnia, and possible treatments to aid this disorder.
Terman, L. M. (1916). The measurement of intelligence: an explanation of and a complete guide for the use of the Stanford revision and extension of the Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale. Massachusetts: The Riverside Press.
CPR involves breathing for the victim and applying external chest compression to make the heart pump. When paramedics arrive, medications and/or electrical shock (car...
The sinking of the Titanic demonstrated the concept not only of the privileges of being a first class passenger, but also the responsibilities that duty implied. Although, the Titanic brought many of her passengers with her including profuse of her lower class. According to Cummins, Captain Smith was aware that the ship would sink, and lack of communication hindered the expulsion and increased the number of fatalities (Cummins). Smith knowledge of the collision increased the numbers of deaths, especially for the lower class.
Charles Spearman's model of intelligence and Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence theory are two of the most widely used theories of intelligence. In order to understand how similar the two theories are we must first understand their differences. These two men differed in opinion on how IQ and intelligence should be measured, and they differed in opinion on what made a person "smart". In order to examine these things they first had to understand the human brain and how it works. They had to examine the human study habits and rituals, along with the human test taking habits.
On 14 April, four days into the crossing and about 375 miles south of Newfoundland, she hit an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. ship's time. The Titanic made an impact, two hours and 40 minutes later, the boat was lost in the ocean forever. Just like Jack Jill, and Bob Blob. They tried to get on a rescue boat and they were being selfish and wanted to be the first people to get a lifeboat so they knew they would survive and so Tyrone T. lll stayed behind. So then they got on a lifeboat and it ended up sinking/freezing because of how many people were on it. It was the most well known ship for all
Describe what evolutionary psychologists mean when they employ the term ‘theory of mind’. Use examples and research studies from Book 1, Chapter 2 to show why this theory is important in evolutionary psychology.
Traditional theories of intelligence do not account for the ambiguity of classes such as philosophy or for the wide range of interests a child can have. For example, contemporary theories such as Sternberg’s Theory of Intelligence and Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences both account for more than the general intelligence accounted for in traditional intelligence theories. According to Robert Sternberg’s Successful (Triarchic) Theory of Intelligence, are Hector’s difficulties in philosophy indicative of future difficulties in the business world? According to Sternberg’s Theory of Intelligence, Hector’s difficulty in philosophy will not negatively affect his future. Sternberg would instead focus on elements of successful intelligence like Hector’s involvement and contribution as an individual, as opposed to relying on intelligence measured by tests.
In the following essay, we discuss different theoretical perspectives from Nomothetic and Idiographic approach. How they apply to both Personality (pattern of behavior and thinking) and Intelligence (thinking and behavior). Arguments for both sides are base on what psychologists generally use them as, because some might disagrees with the usage of the word nomothetic and idiographic, orientated by Kantian and Wilhelm Windelband.
Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence focuses more on how numerical expressions of human intelligence are not a full and accurate depiction of people’s abilities (McFarlane, 2011). He includes and describes eight intelligences that are based on skills and abilities that are valued within different cultures. The eight intelligences include visual-spatial (e.g. sailor navigating with no navigational systems), verbal-linguistic (e.g. poets, writers, orators, and communicators), bodily-kinesthetic (e.g. dancers, athletes, surgeons, craftspeople), logical-mathematical (e.g. mathematicians and logicians), interpersonal(e.g. salespeople, teachers, clinicians, politicians, and religious leaders), musical (e.g. musicians and
Intelligence by definition is “the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills” (Oxford Dictionary, 2014). However, many psychologists argue that there is no standard definition of ‘intelligence’, and there have been many different theories over time as psychologists try to find better ways to define this concept (Boundless 2013). While some believe in a single, general intelligence, others believe that intelligence involves multiple abilities and skills. Another largely debated concept is whether intelligence is genetically determined and fixed, or whether is it open to change, through learning and environmental influence. This is commonly known as the nature vs. nurture debate.
An intelligent person is capable to cognate information and connect them to others. The information perceived by an intellectual being can be easily conceived by another intellectual personality and can be used as learning material to educate the less intelligent individuals. Some intellectual capacities are innate to individuals, but the self-awareness of intelligence may also be innate; the majority of individuals augment their intellectual capacity in the educational setting where they have the opportunity to learn and communicate academically. In another case, intelligence is part of our behavior and emotional cognizance; it correlates with our memories. With the intellectual ability, individuals have the capacity to make plans, create, and solve complex and noncomplex
The story of the Titanic was told long before the ocean liner was even a thought. Fourteen years prior to the sinking of the Titanic, Morgan Robertson wrote a book called The Wreck of the Titan. In his book, a passenger ship called Titan set sail from England and was headed to New York loaded with first class passengers and luxurious items. The Titan hits an iceberg in the North Atlantic, causing the ship to sink and the passengers to panic. The lack of lifeboats and life jackets on the Titan lead to the loss of many lives. Morgan Robertson’s book would predict the fate of the great ocean liner, the Titanic, fourteen years after.
CPR and First Aid have become procedures that are commonly used in all medical fields. It is always good to know how to perform both of the procedures in case of any emergency that may arise when it is not expected. Having to perform CPR could save someone’s life, not knowing how to perform it correctly could result in a person not being saved. Knowing first aid is also crucial because it’s something that can be used not only in a medical setting, but also at home on family members. Getting all the knowledge that one can get on either of these two procedures will only benefit that person for the future.