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duomind
SITE LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
Hello guys! Today we're gonna explore the concept of intelligence!
The idea of intelligence has been explored and debated throughout human history, assuming different meanings and interpretations. From ancient civilizations to contemporary advances in science and technology, the notion of intelligence has evolved significantly, and our understanding of it is constantly changing.
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In antiquity, civilizations such as the Egyptian, Greek, and Chinese believed that intelligence was directly linked to wisdom and the ability to solve complex problems. In this perspective, intelligence was viewed as an innate quality, reserved for a few privileged individuals. Figures like Socrates and Aristotle emphasized the importance of knowledge, reflection, and logic in developing the mind and attaining wisdom.
During the Middle Ages, intelligence was often associated with religious faith and connection to God. Medieval scholars believed that true intelligence aligned with divine will and the teachings of the Church. Knowledge during this period was restricted to a few clergy and scholars, and the dissemination of ideas was limited and often distorted.
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In the Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries, the perception of intelligence began to change. Philosophers like René Descartes and John Locke argued that intelligence was linked to the capacity for reasoning and the pursuit of truth through observation and critical thinking. This era introduced ideals of reason, freedom, and equality, fundamental to the formation of modern democracies.
In the 20th century, psychology played a significant role in studying intelligence. French psychologist Alfred Binet developed the first intelligence tests aimed at assessing children's cognitive potential. These tests were later refined and popularized, resulting in the well-known Intelligence Quotient (IQ) test, which attempted to measure a person's intelligence based on specific cognitive abilities.
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The concept of multiple intelligences is a theory proposed by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner in 1983. When we hear the word intelligence, the concept of IQ tests may immediately come to mind. Intelligence is often defined as our intellectual potential; something we are born with, something that can be measured, and a capacity that is difficult to change.
However, in recent years, other views of intelligence have emerged, including Gardner's suggestion that multiple different types of intelligence may exist. Gardner identified eight intelligences:
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Logical-Mathematical Intelligence: The ability to handle deductive reasoning and mathematical concepts. Individuals with high logical-mathematical intelligence excel in solving calculations and may thrive in exact sciences and programming.
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Linguistic Intelligence: Related to the ability to communicate, learn new languages, and use language exceptionally well, whether in written or spoken form. Writers, journalists, linguists, and polyglots demonstrate high levels of linguistic intelligence.
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Spatial Intelligence: Associated with the ability to interpret and create visual images through color, shape, texture, or the use of physical space. This intelligence is prominent in individuals engaged in architecture, design, visual arts, fashion, among others.
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Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence: Used by athletes, dancers, and actors, this intelligence pertains to body control and executing movements effectively. It involves a deep understanding of the body and its capabilities.
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Interpersonal Intelligence: The ability to communicate, persuade, and understand others. It is often found in individuals in positions of authority who excel in public speaking, such as politicians, psychologists, doctors, and teachers.
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Intrapersonal Intelligence: Linked to the ability to understand one's own emotions, feelings, and desires; in other words, self-awareness and self-control.
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Musical Intelligence: The capacity to recognize sounds, melodies, rhythms, and play musical instruments. This intelligence is present in musicians, composers, dancers, and music producers.
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Naturalist Intelligence: Associated with deep knowledge of nature and the ability to interact effectively with it, whether in relation to animals, plant cultivation, or geological understanding.
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For further details about these types of intelligence, you should watch the following video:
At school, I proposed an activity to explore the logical-mathematical intelligence and the Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence. In this activity we divided the class in two groups to make a competition and to make the experience more fun. The game consisted of 6 mini-games and the team that got to the end and completed all of them quicker won a prize!
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The six minigames were:
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The first one consisted of an equation using emojis like this one (try and solve it):
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The second one was a game of reverse charades, where I described what gestures to do with your body using only words and the group doing the actions had to guess what they were doing
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The third one was a game of logic, where there was a rule and the people in the group had to say random words and I said if it went by the rule or not. Once they found out what that rule was they were ready to go to the next game.
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The fourth game was a game of reaction, to see how fast people could react to certain words
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After that, it was a game of connections, where you have 16 words and you have to divide them in four groups of four items that share something in common, they could be synonyms or it could be something harder. The four categories have different difficulties. Here is the puzzle, try and solve it:
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Lastly, the final game consisted of a small penalties game but you had to spin around a cone 5 times before kicking the ball in the goal. The group who got the most goals won!
Catch you later, alligator!
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