Does low intelligence(IQ) mean less suffering?

On what basis do you make the generalised assertion the the more intelligent are prone to contempt for the less intelligent?

On what basis do you make the generalised assertion the the more intelligent are prone to contempt for the less intelligent?

In my experience, the intelligent (but not the wise!) are indeed prone to contempt for the less intelligent. And I also used to watch TV.

Please would you give a definition of intelligence and then of wisdom?

Something tells me that even if he offers you a definition, it won't suffice for you. You'll probably pick it apart and claim that it is too hard to determine by stating that there are many different sorts of intelligences, there's no objective gauge, etc. etc.

Right?

However, I think this may have more do with their socio-economic position than it has to do with their IQ per-se.

Not at all. It's a shame you are given to this impression.

Hm, I'm not so sure about that. It just seems like the classic, show contempt to those you perceive as inadequate sort of thing. And this seems to be something not exclusive to any one culture or socio-economic hierarchy.

Ah, good. :bigsmile:

However, to reiterate, I think the contempt towards others who are perceived as inadequate is more related to economics than it is to IQ. Consider, for example, that in past-times the kind of human traits that currently are rewarded highly might not have been so rewarded then. It may have been that physical prowess and courage lifted you up the socio economic ladder in such past environments. I would argue that the same kind of contempt would have been displayed by whoever was higher up that strata and that the particular historical reasons for which type of trait was at the top is only of secondary importance in explaining any contempt that was in evidence

But how is my showing contempt right now, let us say to you, improving my social standing? I can see how it could, depending on the situation, but I don't see how showing contempt in and of itself has a direct relation with social class. That you can find examples of aristocrats (let us say, those who are "higher up that strata") shunning others, doesn't mean that shunning others in and of itself, for whatever reason, is based on social class. Does it?

I guess my initial response would be to say that a lower IQ would indeed correlate with a lowered capacity to suffer in that a higher IQ means a greater capacity to consider more variables simultaneously (in other words, a greater capacity to worry). Thus, I would be unsurprised to see a correlation between IQ and neuroticism for instance.

However, a lower IQ also correlates with lower economic performance leading to, basically, a harder and more stress-filled life. Thus, any gains, in terms of lack of suffering that are incurred with a lower IQ are probably more than compensated for by an increase in the amount of sh*t one has to deal with.

I suppose that, from the above, we might surmise that those who suffer least are rich thick people and those who suffer most are poor clever people.

I would argue that contempt for others lower down the social strata is not designed to improve social standing. Rather it cements it. It is a social act designed to indicate to relevant others that you belong to the same in-group. A group reinforcing behaviour, in other words.

Also, a secondary benefit for those showing contempt is that it makes it easier to exploit other who are lower down the socio economic strata without violating social ethics.

For the most part, I agree with you. My objections heretofor have mostly been to the blanket assumption that greater intelligence leads to a greater capacity for suffering, which I do not think is a supportable position. If one wanted to say that intelligent people are more prone to certain types of suffering, that is a different thing altogether.

I do think that intelligence has been seen to have connections with specific types of psychological and neurological conditions. For example, a correlation exists between the increased incidence of OCD and high IQ. On the other hand, there are similar problems for people with lower IQ scores. For example, people with low IQ scores have a greater chance of suffering from ADHD. (This last is not really a reflection on ADHD sufferers' intelligence, but on the test-taking conditions themselves. There is no true correlation between IQ and ADHD. But in many ways the problems that make the test difficult for those with the condition, short attention span and poor short-term memory, often has a similar effect on the lives of people with ADHD as a lowered intelligence, pragmatically speaking.)

However, this sort of high intellectual, psychological suffering is somewhat discounted for me, since it may be somewhat self-regulated or treated by drugs. The problems that cause "greater" suffering, if we want to assign it some sort of arbitrary difference of degree, are less manageable and do not seem to me to be suffered more by those with a high IQ and those with a lower one.

It seems you are describing how contempt could be used as a tool within a social group. And I can't help but agree. But that doesn't mean contempt in and of itself is tied to social standing (whether that be improving or "cementing" it). I think there are a fair share of cases where showing contempt has little to do with social standing. Some examples may come from, for instance, those cases where the one showing the contempt is actually not in the "in-group". They may not have a higher social standing, and, for all we know, may not even care about the social hierarchy altogether.

Well, yes, we are talking about biology here and not physics and so we can only argue in terms of statistics and not rules. That people may exhibit contempt for reasons other than as a social tool is unarguable. The question is whether this is what it is mainly used for. My contention would be that it is, but that is as far as I can argue the point without knowing what the research in this area shows.

Please would you give a definition of intelligence and then of wisdom?

Intelligence is being able to ties one's shoes. Wisdom is being grateful one has shoes....and an occasional paradise to walk them through....

I just made that up for you...:flowers:

---------- Post added 06-03-2010 at 06:19 PM ----------

Seriously, isn't IQ a difficult matter?

Thanks for those definitions. I'm not in a position to say whether or not I agree with them without thinking about it. However, I would certainly go so far as to agree there is a difference. Though, I would emphasise, I see no reason to suppose they are mutually exclusive.

As for whether IQ is a difficult matter, I certainly agree it is for reasons unfortunately too long to go into now as I need to get to bed.

Nice chatting folks and I hope to come across you all again here soon.

I'm not just saying this... i do believe there is a connection between IQ and mental "suffering". First of all, those who aren't as intelligent are usually content with what goes on around them. Those less bright aren't as curious. Curiosity can lead to a lot of unanswered questions and it can also lead to depressing ideas. Those who are of a higher IQ level tend to question more and find discomfort in the answers they receive. People with higher IQ's will suffer over mental confusion and turmoil more than less intelligent beings. On the contrary, those who are a bit dull don't have as much going on in their head. Over-analyzing is another major source of agony that will plague more intelligent beings. Over-analyzing can lead to incessant thought and will lead to bleak truths about life, society, and our world. With a higher IQ you have a harder time accepting things as they are. Not getting an reason, not understanding things properly, and not solving what needs to be solved, this is what brings anguish to the intelligent mind.

Does this explain my PoV well enough?

I dont think I agree that leading oneself to anxiety is necessarly a marker of intelligence, though I understand where you're coming from. I do think that people that tend to think deeper or simply think more can end up less "care free" I guess.
Personally I suffer quite a bit from over analyzing things and often causing problems in the present by worrying about and analyzing the potential future. Frankly the way I see it is I would've been perhaps more intelligent if I had the ability to control this and NOT let it make my life occasionally miserable. Intelligence to me would be having the capacity to recognize everything that is necessary but never to a point of it leading to an anxiety or obsessive over-thinking. Using your mind in a way that helps you solve your problems but in a stable, controlled and not obsessive way would have more to do with intelligence in my opinion.

I think its possible that intelligence is related to consciousness...if consciousness has to do with the ability to self reflect, the more thinking capacity one has, the more (and more deeply) one he is able to reflect. no?