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Post by x2world on Nov 3, 2004 14:05:23 GMT -5
A question has occured to me on what would be considered intelligence for a multitude of reasons. A few of these would be when someone says that someone is stupid just because they make an error on something, or because they don't know something that someone else does, because they can't do something that somone else can, or...o no, I forgot, but I think I have gotten the idea accross.
Another reason is the question of "extraterestrial intelligent life" Personally I do not believe such exists, but if it were to be otherwise what could be considered such?
As well as any other reasons which may arise
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Post by x2world on Nov 3, 2004 14:14:03 GMT -5
I believe that because no two people are alike everyone is "intelligent" in one way or another. For example, If someone makes an error on something they will learn from their mistakes and try to correct it the next time. Pople who look down on others for this has probably made the same error or if they have not then most likely they will or they have learned from this person who has made this mistake before them. If someone doesn't know something that someone else does then it is very likely that they will know something that that person doesn't wether be knowledge wisdom or skill.
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Post by TheEaterofWorlds on Nov 3, 2004 15:01:02 GMT -5
The odds are pretty good that there is *some* life out there, but as for intelligence I'm not sure what the exact criteria is. I think that an 'intelligent' lifeform would at least be a lifeform capable of selfawareness. Maybe that's because I read too much Sci-fi...
As for human intelligence, it's now generally thought that there are several types of intelligence;
Yes, everyone is different. That being said, everyone has these types of intelligence in different amounts. Some may excel in one, or some may be alright in all, etc... I always tested well in Linguistics and Logical-mathmatical (I don't know why, I'm very poor at Math but I reason okay) and decently in Spatial intelligence. I'm sort of bad in interpersonal, and very bad in bodily.
Intelligence, in the terms of capacity to learn, is measured with the so called 'Intelligence Quota', the I.Q.
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Post by x2world on Nov 3, 2004 17:49:00 GMT -5
I see that as the ability to learn and how much someone can learn, but is the ability to learn really the only form of intelligence in a human being?
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Post by x2world on Nov 3, 2004 17:53:39 GMT -5
The odds are pretty good that there is *some* life out there, but as for intelligence I'm not sure what the exact criteria is. I think that an 'intelligent' lifeform would at least be a lifeform capable of selfawareness. Maybe that's because I read too much Sci-fi... Not to say that it isn't probable of "*some* life out there" but, I was curious if you could clarify and be more specific on what these odds are that make it likely there is life? The reason I ask is if we do not know that these odds are, how can we consider the possibility? It is not by faith alone that we can be certain of what can and cannot be although in some cases it is necessary. Off topic but, How many people enjoy Sci-fi? |
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Post by Stal on Nov 3, 2004 17:57:51 GMT -5
Not to say that it isn't probable of "*some* life out there" but, I was curious if you could clarify and be more specific on what these odds are that make it likely there is life? If I remember right, even based on evolutionary statistics, the odds are so slim that it's statistically/mathematically impossible that there's more life out there. Assuming evolution is true, basically so many factors would have to come together to even have another sort of "earth" and evolutionary system... So it's a very very slim chance. Unfortunately I don't recall the exact statistics myself. I just remember hearing a staunch evolutionistic scientist lecturing about the statistics and probability of it. Those are about the only statistics that come my mind. So that may be what TEoW was referring to as well... |
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Post by Rider on Nov 3, 2004 18:04:47 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Sure, there's a slim chance, but the universe extends for... countless galaxies, numberless light-years. In all that space, I think there probably is some other form of intelligent life. We'll never find it in our lifetime, though. Which stinks. I'd love to meet the aliens.
IQ measures one kind of intelligence. There are so many more. TEOW summed it up fairly well, I think. [/glow]
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Post by x2world on Nov 3, 2004 18:05:14 GMT -5
If I remember right, even based on evolutionary statistics, the odds are so slim that it's statistically/mathematically impossible that there's more life out there. Assuming evolution is true, basically so many factors would have to come together to even have another sort of "earth" and evolutionary system... So it's a very very slim chance. Unfortunately I don't recall the exact statistics myself. I just remember hearing a staunch evolutionistic scientist lecturing about the statistics and probability of it. Those are about the only statistics that come my mind. So that may be what TEoW was referring to as well... But TEow said "the odds are pretty good" not unlikely/slim. Currently I am on a neutral stance on wether either is true but before we discuss what intelligent life would be I am curious to find out what you guys think...is there life or isn't there. And if one or the other, what evidence is there (wether it be concrete or theory) |
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Post by x2world on Nov 3, 2004 18:10:30 GMT -5
I agree that when it comes to intelligence refering to the ability to learn and how much one can learn (if it is agreed that is in fact intelligence...I think it is) TEoW did a very fine job of summerizing it, however, I do not believe the ability to learn and hoard knowledge is the only form of knowledege.
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Post by Stal on Nov 3, 2004 18:14:14 GMT -5
But TEow said "the odds are pretty good" not unlikely/slim. Currently I am on a neutral stance on wether either is true but before we discuss what intelligent life would be I am curious to find out what you guys think...is there life or isn't there. And if one or the other, what evidence is there (wether it be concrete or theory) I translated her stress of the word *some* as the fact it's not one big alien highway out there, and the odds were good that if there was any, it was few. And if she wasn't referring to scientific statistics, you just have to take a look at the countless numbers of star systems are around. All the countless numbers of galaxies, each with their countless number of so much more. Based on that, one may say that "odds are good"... So it could be one of those two things... |
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Post by x2world on Nov 3, 2004 18:21:22 GMT -5
As for extraterestrial intrelligent life we are trying to decide wether it is there or not, not exactly how much there is.
So you believe that there is extraterestrial life? In your last post you said it was pratically impossible...
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Post by RJ on Nov 3, 2004 18:25:22 GMT -5
I don't believe there is any life out there either. It just doesn't seem possible to me. *shrug*
As for intelligence in animals, it's pretty hard to find a definate meaning. Some people think that if an animal can solve a puzzle, then it's intelligent. But a worm can solve a simple T maze given the options of an electric shock or some dirt. Does that make the worm intelligent though?
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Post by Stal on Nov 3, 2004 18:25:45 GMT -5
As for extraterestrial intrelligent life we are trying to decide wether it is there or not, not exactly how much there is. The two are intrinisicly linked, atually. Just take a look at it. In my opinion, I honestly don't know. I'm not an evolution believer so that tells me that in extra-terrestrial life would be created from God as well. While I don't believe that's been done, honestly, who's to know? |
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Post by x2world on Nov 3, 2004 18:31:22 GMT -5
The two are intrinisicly linked, atually. Just take a look at it. In my opinion, I honestly don't know. I'm not an evolution believer so that tells me that in extra-terrestrial life would be created from God as well. While I don't believe that's been done, honestly, who's to know? yes they are linked but what I meant was that the amount was not under question, it was wether it does or doesn't exist and if so how to decide how it might be considered intelligent. True, For those who read the Bible and believe what it says all that can be concluded is that only Earth has life. This is because it only says God created Adam and Eve. It never mentions creating anyone else...except the animals and creatures which it also says abide on on Earth |
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Post by TheEaterofWorlds on Nov 3, 2004 18:50:04 GMT -5
Hrmm. I don't think I worded that well at all. I was basing that statement on these general things;
First is that despite the odds of life, we have it here. If we were placed here or not we are hear and that means that however likely or unlikely it is, it is possible.
The second reason I think we have a decent chance of something being out there is that 'alien life' can be something as simple as a single cell organism. It's possible that some rocks and such we've brought back from Mars have evidence of a kind of bacteria that used to exist on the planet. If two planets right next to each other might have life, then other planets might too. Just that fact that we exist shows a possiblity that it happened somewhere else. There are huge numbers of planetary systems out there, and there are probably several that have a star of our size coupled with a planet our relative size and distance.
Drat... I was watching something that had some neaat figures... but I can't remember what it was. Something about the scientists who send calls out to space and listen for responces...
Another thing is that people are finding out that life can be even more resiliant than was earlier thought. (Did anyone read my post about bacteria carried up on a Moon mission being found years later still alive? Or the possible non-carbon based llifeforms surviving in basalt? Not to be self referential....)
So yes, it is a leap of faith to say that, but I don't have a problem with it. Is there 'intelligent' life out there? I have no idea, but I reckon there is something somewhere out there, the universe is just to big to rule it out.
Is the ability to learn intelligence? Let's look at some definitions of the word;
"intelligence [n]
1) the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience"
And From Merriam-Webster online;
"Main Entry: in·tel·li·gence
Pronunciation: in-'te-l&-j&n(t)s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin intelligentia, from intelligent-, intelligens intelligent
1 a (1) : the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations : REASON; also : the skilled use of reason (2) : the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as tests)"
So by definition, intelligence is the ability to learn, and to apply what is learned.
Based on what the Bible says, yes it can be concluded that life on Earth was created by God, however while it doesn't mention life on other planets, it does not mention there *not* being life on other planets. Absence of proof is not proof of absence, and all that.
This may be for the same reason that the Bible doesn't mention Gravity, Genetics (Okay, a little genetics) and other such things; It wasn't needed at the time. The Bible has a function to be a set of rules, a guidebook of behavior, and as a recording of relevent history. Life on other planets isn't mentioned because there was no reason to mention it, and considering the lack of knowledge man had of other planets at the time, would probably have been confusing. (<--- Personal opinion)
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