Math and intelligence.

[Bozo Erectus]

Like I said in the right brained, left brained thread, Im totally right brained and math is more incomprehensible to me than Sanskrit. Do you think math skill is the most important measure of intelligence? How important a factor is it in your opinion?

 

[Hitro]

Originally posted by Dumb pothead
How important a factor is it in your opinion?

In mathematical terms?

Seriously I think it is one aspect of intelligence (actually several, "math" is not one single way of thinking) but not the whole of it.
It is an important one, especially the logical thinking part of it, but not the only important one.

 

[betazed]

I voted the second option. But I shouldn't have voted at all (since there should have been a third option, "you can't do math, but you are still smart", and even then the choices are not mutually exclusive; it should have been a multiple choice poll instead of a single choice poll.

@DP: no offense, but you really need math lessons ).

Personally, I do not think that math skills are either necessary or sufficient to be considered intelligent.

However, I have seen empirically a training in math does help a person to ask logical questions and think logically. But I guess training in many other fields will do that too.

I also feel (just a feeling since I am not trained in the subject) our modern IQ tests do not test many of our cognitive skills.

 

[Pirate]

If you can't do basic addition and subtraction you probably have some intelligence issues. But I think you are asking about math beyond simple arithmetic.

Higher mathmatics is an exercise in abstract thought. The ablilty to model a real world system as an order of equations takes a measure of intelligence because it is not concrete. You must be able to make connections between esoteric symbols and events and forces that you experience. Thus if you understand math, you are very likely intelligent. However the inverse is not necessarly true.

The same level of abstract thought and understanding of complex systems is involved in, say, appreciating a symphony and writing poetry. Intelligence comes with the ability to comprehend complex abstract ideas and apply those ideas to your benefit.

 

[MCdread]

Mathematical inteligence is just one type of intelligence. You can be excellent at it and having troubles in other activities that involve a certain degree of intelligence. And being a physicist myself and knowing well lots of people with huge "mathematical intelligence", I have reasons to say that.

 

[The Last Conformist]

I remain unconvinced that intelligence is a measurable quantity.


People who are generally perceived as intelligent are usually good at math, but there are exceptions, and there are people who are very good at maths and not much anything else, which I think most people agree aren't very intelligent in the usual sense of the term.

Didn't vote, due to restrictive alternatives.

 

[funxus]

I think most intellligence tests measure logical thinking, and I believe you might be good at that without being an expert at math.

DP, I consider you smarter than me, even though I'm fairly good at math.

 

[MCdread]

Originally posted by The Last Conformist
I remain unconvinced that intelligence is a measurable quantity.

I think it is a bit like beauty. You can tell if someone is beautiful or not in your eyes, but it is ridiculous to think about a beauty score. So I don't have IQ tests in high consideration.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Originally posted by betazed
@DP: no offense, but you really need math lessons ).

Its very mysterious to me. If I really focus very hard, I can comprehend a math problem, but it only lasts for a short time. Within minutes, its gone, it wont stay in my brain. All through my schooling years I was in remedial math classes. One math teacher I had at one point Mr. Pace (whos patience with us math dullards was amazing, the guys a saint), before giving us a test, would actually explain the whole thing on the blackboard, basically helping us cheat on his own test. While he was explaining it I could understand it, but by the time he was done erasing the blackboard and had passed around the tests, it had evaporated from my brain!

Funxux, dont say that! Ive read your posts, no way am I smarter than you! But lets not get into an argument about which one of us is smarter because then everyone will think that were BOTH dumb

 

[Pirate]

Originally posted by The Last Conformist
Didn't vote, due to restrictive alternatives.

What, no giant radioactive monkeys?

 

[Gothmog]

I think creativity is the halmark of high level intelligence.

Abstract thought is also indicitive of intelligence - that's where math fits in.

To be able to combine creativity and abstract thought is the holy grail.

As a scientist I have found that the ability to synthesize disparate data into working hypotheses and then propose the next step is the bottom line.

 

[thestonesfan]

I think the best indicator of intelligence is a person's sense of irony. The ability to grasp relational aspects of things indicates that you are better able to solve problems, have a better sense of humor, and are generally better at abstract thought.

Of course, I may have just made myself sound like an idiot, since I really don't have much of an idea of what I'm talking about.

 

[WickedSmurf]

I don't think there is a certain way to measure someone's intelligence. If there is, it's certainly not math! I know some people who have really sharp minds but none of them really excel at math skills...

 

[IglooDame]

Originally posted by thestonesfan
I think the best indicator of intelligence is a person's sense of irony. The ability to grasp relational aspects of things indicates that you are better able to solve problems, have a better sense of humor, and are generally better at abstract thought.

Of course, I may have just made myself sound like an idiot, since I really don't have much of an idea of what I'm talking about.

Ah, how deliciously ironic!!


I've had the pleasure of working for a couple people whose engineering-related intellect was like a laser - they could see all the ramifications and possibilities of a situation after hearing about it for the first time while other people could study it for weeks and still be feeling their way through. I'd rate them as very intelligent even if they had no exceptional math abilities.

 

[stratego]

Math intelligence is much easier to measure than verbal or social intelligence. There is actually a concise final answer when it comes to math, while verbal or social skill have to be taken in full context.

 

[ShiplordAtvar]

Mathematical intelligence doesn't predispose one to having common sense or street smarts. I was a math major, and knew several fellow math students who were complete *obscenity* morons.

 

[thestonesfan]

Originally posted by IglooDude


Ah, how deliciously ironic!!

 

[Hitro]

Originally posted by ShiplordAtvar
Mathematical intelligence doesn't predispose one to having common sense or street smarts. I was a math major, and knew several fellow math students who were complete *obscenity* morons.

This is certainly true.

The question however is how you define "intelligence". If you define it as "math skills" the answer is obvious. If not it will lead to a "it's a part of it" answer.

"Common sense" has in my view nothing to do with intelligence. In many cases rather with a common lack of it.

"Street smarts" are certainly closer to it.

 

[nihilistic]

yes, if you cant do math, youre officially stupid.

Depends on what level of mathematical inability you are talking about. For me, my standards are that if you can't add/subtract/multiply/divide 2 digit numbers in your head quickly (under 5 seconds), then you are probably not that bright.
Math is exxentially logic. You don't need much knowledge to do it. You just need to be able to think.

no, you can be a math whiz and still be a clueless moron.

Again, it depends on at what level of competency you are defining to be a "whiz". But I can assure you that none of the people I consider "math whizzes" are clueless morons. A great majority of them might not be connsidered sane, and a few may be psychopaths, but none of them are dumb. However, frequently a lack of interest in everyday matters might get cause math whizzes to be interpreted as inept [and this is usually compounded by many of them lacking social skills]. Sometimes people have more interesting things to think about than what you may think of them.

 

[Laughing Gull]

I hate math. I can't be bothered with it. I'll leave it to the calculator or mathematicians I hire

Throughout my education, I allways tested quite high in every subject except for math.