Imagine a world where admission to the top universities, such as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, or Yale, was based solely on height. In such a world, tall people would come to believe that success is determined by height, while shorter individuals would face obstacles in obtaining the same opportunities.
Believe it or not, this is the reality we live in — minus the height requirements. Instead, we base our decisions on who deserves access to the best opportunities and positions of power on a concept known as intelligence. After all, someone who is considered intelligent is assumed to possess the necessary capabilities, right?
However, we have it completely backwards. Research conducted by myself and many others over several decades has shown that our current understanding of intelligence is narrow, lacks rigorous scientific basis, is self-serving, and ultimately undermines our own progress. This is evident in the inadequate response of many nations to the covid-19 pandemic, as well as other pressing issues like climate change, income disparity, and environmental pollution. Our flawed approach to intelligence has failed to generate intelligent solutions to these real-world problems.
It is clear that we need a better approach. Fortunately, the starting point for this transformation is evident. By revisiting a more scientifically grounded perspective on intelligence — considering who can possess it and how we cultivate it in ourselves and others — we can begin to enhance our decision-making capabilities and reshape our world for the better.
Our current…
