I was reading an old book on education today and came across this bit about what intelligence is:

“The word (intelligence) sends us back to a phrase of Plato.  The person of intelligence is the one who always tends to “see things as they are,” the one who never permits his view of them to be directed by convention, by the hope of advantage, or by an irrational and arbitrary authoritarianism.  He allows the current of his consciousness to flow in perfect freedom over any object that may be presented to it, uncontrolled by prejudice, prepossession or formula; and thus we may say that there are certain integrities at the root of intelligence which give it somewhat the aspect of a moral as well as an intellectual attribute.” By Albert Jay Nock in “The Theory of Education in the United States” (1931)

This is so important to grasp. We need to have this quality in ourselves and be able to tell if other people have it. I’ve learned that no amount of study or IQ can overcame pride and stubbornness. One can look into a subject very intensely, but unless that person is willing to change their long held beliefs and admit that their opponents might be onto something, the person might as well not have studied at all. They will continue to believe what they have always believed.

You see the affects of this lack of “intelligence” in every area of importance in life – theology, economics, biology, meteorology, political science. The bulk of what is going on in these fields is not open and honest inquiry. These fields are dominated by political maneuvering, desire for personal gain, and an unwillingness of those involved to admit when they are wrong.

Let’s make it our mission to be humble, open in our thoughts, and teachable; not critical and judgemental. Only then can we truly develop and grow as individuals.