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Which Is Better?
a. To be intelligent. 25%  25%  [ 5 ]
b. To act intelligently. 15%  15%  [ 3 ]
c. Both a and b. 50%  50%  [ 10 ]
d. None of the above. 10%  10%  [ 2 ]
Total votes : 20

Fnord
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14 Jul 2018, 10:16 am

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines 'intelligence' as: "the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations; reason; the skilled use of reason; and the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (such as tests)".

(More details HERE.)

So, under the stated criteria, the question is: "Do you believe that it is better to BE intelligent, to ACT intelligently, both, or neither?" Please don't turn this into a debate on whether or not intelligence exists here or on other planets, whether or not a specific group of people is more or less intelligent than you or anyone else, or whether or not a specific person is more or less intelligent than anyone else (NO FLAMING!).

Just select option a, b, c, or d, and maybe explain why you made your selection. You may vote only once, and you cannot change your vote. Thank you.



ASPartOfMe
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14 Jul 2018, 11:43 am

a and b, better to halve two abilities than one.

If I had to choose between a and b only it would be b.


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14 Jul 2018, 7:10 pm

Well, I really hemmed and hawed over this one.....

I think if one is genuinely intelligent, they won't have to "act", it will come naturally.

If one can only "act" intelligently, they will, eventually, be found-out.

I think it's better to BE intelligent----that way, it wouldn't matter how one "acted", someone else with keen senses, would know the truth; and, I would much rather know someone with keen senses than to know someone who, with only one glance, or upon hearing only one word, emotionally reacted and discounted someone.





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Fnord
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14 Jul 2018, 7:22 pm

Campin_Cat wrote:
... I think it's better to BE intelligent----that way, it wouldn't matter how one "acted", someone else with keen senses, would know the truth; and, I would much rather know someone with keen senses than to know someone who, with only one glance, or upon hearing only one word, emotionally reacted and discounted someone.
Also, if you are intelligent enough, you know how to "dumb down" for the people around you, so that they will be less likely to cull you from their herd for being 'different'.



Mikah
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14 Jul 2018, 7:49 pm

I'm not sure you can act intelligently if you are not intelligent. Unless you mean something stupid like wearing thick glasses and a lab coat.


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Fnord
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14 Jul 2018, 8:02 pm

Mikah wrote:
I'm not sure you can act intelligently if you are not intelligent. Unless you mean something stupid like wearing thick glasses and a lab coat.
"Better to remain silent and be thought of as a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt." -- Lisa Simpson

Whenever there is an "All Hands" meeting, I tell my assistants to just smile, nod their heads, and say nothing.



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15 Jul 2018, 10:12 am

If you pretend to be intelligent then you are not.It’s just an act.


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aghogday
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16 Jul 2018, 10:59 am

Yet, still another Interesting Poll and Question
Per is it Better to Be Intelligent or Act Intelligent.
Thanks Fnord, and it was very helpful that you Provided
A Distinct 'Merriam Webster' Definition for Intelligence; for
otherwise that Will be Disputed per other Definitions of Intelligence(s).
With these Parameters given, I decided to vote none of the above, for the
Life Experiences of my Intelligences say to me with no ifs and or buts, if you Don't
Do as the 'Romans' do, no matter how Intelligent you are or act; You get Kicked out
if you don't dilute what you are and what you do per the Bell Curve at Hand. So, my
Answer is, still, it depends on where you 'live'. Fortunately, for me, I've found (a) place
i can and will do and be all that i am as far as all Human Potential Intelligences go now.
Still, though, It is Much Better to Act Intelligent to Increase one's Intelligences, so, i spend most of
Existence Actually Exercising my Human Potentials in places that do allow it, namely, where, i actually
fully Do live now.


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kraftiekortie
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16 Jul 2018, 12:13 pm

But one can "act" intelligently without putting on an "act."

To act intelligently is to act with virtue.



Misslizard
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16 Jul 2018, 1:42 pm

kraftiekortie wrote:
But one can "act" intelligently without putting on an "act."

To act intelligently is to act with virtue.

Not sure about that.
Virtue would be chasing a mugger down an alley.
Intelligence says it’s not a good idea.


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XFilesGeek
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16 Jul 2018, 2:28 pm

I'd say it's better to actually be intelligent.

If you actually are intelligent, you should be smart enough to know when to act it, and when to put on the facade of a simpleton.


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kraftiekortie
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16 Jul 2018, 2:47 pm

Virtue is when you're smart about things.

Chasing a mugger down the street would be admirable, but not virtuous. It wouldn't be a smart move; therefore, it wouldn't be virtuous.

Virtue is about making the most rational choice, with the implication that the "choice" is morally upright.



Misslizard
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16 Jul 2018, 3:04 pm

Suicide bombers think they are virtuous,so do abortion clinic protestors and 911 terroists.
Virtue depends on belief, not intelligence,


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kraftiekortie
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16 Jul 2018, 3:12 pm

It depends on both.

From an objective standpoint----don't you believe that suicide bombers lack virtue? Don't you believe that radical thinkers of all ilks lack virtue?

Virtue might mean something else to somebody else.....but the definition of virtue is strict.

From an objective standpoint, it's better to not chase the mugger.



Misslizard
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16 Jul 2018, 7:47 pm

You can be intelligent and not virtuous.
Or you could be on the slow side and virtuous,a good example would be the character Forrest Gump.
I think fundamentalists of all kinds usually lack virtue although they think otherwise.As for radical thinkers,depends on what they stand for.


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kraftiekortie
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16 Jul 2018, 7:52 pm

Yes, you can be virtuous and not intelligent. Absolutely.

All I said is that I want to be both.