Fandango’s Provocative Question #2 is:
“What do you think is more useful: intelligence or wisdom, and why do you feel that way?”
Intelligence and wisdom are human attributes. One is fixed (unchanging) and one is dynamic (changing) . From my view, intelligence is a fixed, or unchanging aspect, much like eye or hair color; and wisdom is a dynamic, or changing aspect.
That said, I think intelligence and wisdom are inextricably intertwined. Why I believe this is because one’s level of intelligence will be able process events, mistakes, rewards, positives, negatives, opportunities, decisions, etc. in a particular way. If a person is of low intelligence, they may not be able to make the connections needed to avoid re-making a lot of mistakes, repetitions, dangerous situations; whereas if they are of high intelligence they will remember and learn from it so as to avoid the same. As a person isn’t or is able to adapt based on lived experiences will indicate if they move towards wisdom or not.
One’s emotional quotient (EQ) also plays into the situation. A person may be intelligent but be an emotional wreck and get into all kinds of situations which are barriers to wisdom. A person may not be intelligent but have a calm disposition and thus avoid a lot of the travails the one with the hi IQ/low EQ will go through.
There is also a question of heart, as I believe there is a path to wisdom through one’s heart, regardless of level of intelligence. Love is the great mediator and the great healer.
Very tricky question and one that, as you can see, wasn’t easy to pin down.
Fandango’s Provocative Question #2 — intelligence or wisdom?
Tao Talk 
I agree intelligence is what it is for good or ill. Wisdom is something we hopefully acquire. That got me thinking of another question- intelligence or knowledge- someone a lot younger once said to me something on the order of my being intelligent. I told them that they were more intelligent than I was- when they disagreed and said something about how much more I knew then them- I had to tell them that is knowledge- I have acquired a lot of knowledge over the years but as far as intelligence – that they were by far more intelligent.
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insightful commentary
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Yes, it is a tricky question, which what makes the way people respond to it so fascinating. Thanks for playing!
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I believe wisdom outranks intelligence. Through testing intelligence, we gain wisdom by the success and failure of intelligence.
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so you are saying you feel it’s in a separate hierarchy? what happens to a person who has no intelligence? can they still reach wisdom?
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Yes, they can. Everyone has an intelligence. It’s how they use their intelligence to gain that wisdom. Some will and some won’t… I do believe wisdom is superior.
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Amazing points, the best being the controversy surrounding High IQ and emotional stability, Low IQ and inability to adapt and learn from experience. They are two extremes, so I agree that a normal IQ but good adaptability skills is the best .
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🙂 thank you for reading and glad you enjoyed the provocative question!
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