Quote:
Quote by: Derach  Generally, intelligence is the ability to retain and recall information ... usually information that is rarely used or obscure or that one has only been exposed to once or twice or many years ago. Intelligence is a memory skill. The abiliity to apply intelligence to a worthwhile task is a much rarer and more valuable skill ... 'competence'.
Unfortunately, intelligence has become synonimous with education. And there are TONS of educated idiots ... just like there are tons of really smart capable people with virtually no formal schooling.
Seems to me in most everyday life encounters, it is people with a high level of competence and common sense that are most useful ... not necessarily the person with the ability to retain or recall obscure information. Those are the people who are generally regarded as 'intelligent' ... but competence, intelligence, and education are 3 different things ... all of which are good to have, but the most useful is competence ... which is the ability to perform a task (or a variety of tasks) correctly over and over again. |
You're right, competence is the most valuable of the three as we move through life. Intelligence and education are useful only when you need to learn a new skill in which to become competent.
My father once told me "intelligence not supported with common sense is useless." I have to say that I agree with him. He also says "every day is an education" and I agree on that point as well.