Intelligence and LO LO9893

Benjamin Compton (bcompton@geocities.com)
Tue, 10 Sep 1996 19:12:05 -0700

Replying to LO9757 --

There are those who have said that IQ measures a limited type or form of
intelligence, which makes it a rather myopic test. And, many of these same
people espouse the idea that there are many forms of intelligence -- some
making specific reference to "emotional intelligence."

I've been quiet on this topic for a few days, as I've been pondering the
topic and exploring the possibilities. The other night I was reading a
religious book written by Truman Madsen, a professor at Brigham Young
University, in which he defines at least for types of intelligence. I
found his definitions to be insightful, and thought I'd share them with
the list. (The definitions are direct quotes from Madsen.)

1) Imagination -- the ability to picture the concrete pictorially,
vividly, in its possibilities and variations. This is the fund of
creativity.

2) Conceptualization -- the ability to understand principles, information,
truth, and then (which ins't quite the same) to express them accurately,
clearly, and, as need be, briefly.

3) Memorization -- the ability to retain what one learns and summon it at
will for further use, implication, or application. '

4) Simplicity-minded -- not simpleminded, but simplicity-minded, having
the ability to reduce eloborate ideas to a core or center essence. To be
able to see what other minds do not; to recognize implications, nuances,
extensions of ideas that go beyond ordinary perception.

I like these definitions, and think they fit nicely with the ideas of a
Learning Organization. And, I think they show, in a rather eloquent way,
that intelligence is more than something that can be measured by an IQ
test.

For what it's worth. . .

--

Ben Compton bcompton@geocities.com

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>