Why do we need intelligence?

[Psilon]

I think in our society, intelligence has become a useless commodity. When I speak of intelligence, I mean in the traditional close-minded book smart way.

All one needs in society is 'people' skills (there's got to be a better word for this). Jobs, promotions, mates, status are all attained by a persons ability to deal with people. Even in academia 'people' skills outweigh book smarts.

So, are book smarts really needed?
Have they become incompatible in society?

 

[Tienshin]

You need a balance of both. Book smarts and people skills. Intelligence may get you somewhere but may not be enough to take you higher. The opposite is also true I think. You can only rely on one side to a point...i.e. either what you've been taught, or what you KNOW. I find that using both in tandem is the best way to be effective at work or in the classroom.

Of course I am a libra, so I tend to approach life that way. Wishy washy.

 

[Web Head]

Without intelligence our society would stagnate and die. Street smarts don't let you cure diseases or invent new technologies, they really only let you play off others.

And no matter what field you choose, as smooth as you may be, if you don't have the know-how and experience to back it up you're gonna fall flat on your face.

 

[Roman Legion]

Keep me far away from the rest of the unintelligent human population, and I'll be quite happy to do without people skills.

--Romey

 

[Seven Marks]

Man, are you kidding? For thousands of years you would've been right, you know? But for the past TWENTY years?? Man, yeah RIGHT!! Science is of PRIMARY importance to civilization, now. Ever heard of something called the COld War? Man, the whole THING practically revolved around who was more scientifacally advanced. If your talkng about Bush, man he has neither streets smarts OR booksmarts. What he HAS is a freaking powerful father.

 

[EinBebop]

I think in our society, intelligence has become a useless commodity. When I speak of intelligence, I mean in the traditional close-minded book smart way.

I've just been rendered obsolete!

 

[creeper]

I think people rely too much on books and not enough on their own instincts.

The people in the world that are truly smart, are the ones that question what books say and go out to prove them wrong. I mean we'd still think the world was flat if someone didn't challenge it. People forget that we all have our own individual talents.

As for Curing diseases and stuff like that. A book will never cure a disease. The book may have record of someone else's findings but it's not the book that does the curing. Some people are born w/ gifts....you can teach them the basics but it's their talent that takes them further. That's how human beings are. I think evolution has stopped because we rely too much on information and refuse to challenge and refute.

Intelligence is a great asset. But if you don't hone your instincts too then you'll never have the full package that was meant for us as human beings.

 

[Psilon]

Seven Marks:
You're correct about the cold war. But once it ended 'progress' has slowed. Most successful academics are 75% salesman 25% academic.

I should make my point more clear. To display an extra amount of intelligence is unnecessary (and sometimes detrimental). All one has to show is that (s)he is not incompetent and ignorant. Yet, people skills will always aid you tremendously no matter the situation.

So for the average person in society being intelligent really doesn't help them out. It would be better for the average person to have good people skills.

Intelligence is not really needed for the average person.

*Note: I'm referring to the average population when I use the term society. The next Einstein really needs no people skills -(though it'll probably help).

 

[Sublime420]

You underestimate the necisary balance. People skill's help you get accomplished what you want to do but you need aplicable skills to actually get it done.

Also there is a dependence that people skills has with intelligence, "book smarts" incompasses alot. Even when, which is alot, it's not gained from an actual book.

 

[Drachentöter]

Well, you have a point. Society is not in the hands of the intelligent, but the charismatic. Politics is the worst thing to happen to the world, IMO.

I strive for intelligence for my own sake, not that of others'. It gives me a certain sense of security to know that I know more than the next person.

 

[CoolBlue]

Separate people do things to there own separate ablilities rather intelligence or street smarts you imply things evey day that you can use as an personal benifit.

 

[wrenchien]

because smashing your head into the keyboard only produces gibberish, not award- winning novels.