669. The Difference Between Instrumental Intelligence And Wise Intelligence
Entry 648 was about a chimpanzee's amazing cognitive accomplishments. But he is not the only animal with astounding achievements:
http://www.zoo.ox.ac.uk/group/kacelnik/lb_movie_s1.mov
This movie shows, how a cockatoo solves a complicated puzzle to get access to food.
This is once more an example for what I consider the fundamental difference between what I will call instrumental intelligence and wise intelligence. This difference is often overlooked and confounded. Animals can show some form of instrumental intelligence. But wise intelligence requires cognitive abilities, which are found only in humans, and by far not in all of them.
Ayumu and the cockatoo will repeat difficult cognitive task, whenever their body is inclined to eat the reward. Nothing else has an impact upon the application of instrumental intelligence to a perceived need and to the goal of fulfilling it. Attempting a task, no matter the amount of instrumental intelligence needed, is not a decision, but an automatic reaction to a need or an urge.
A human too usually needs some instrumental intelligence to acquire food. No matter if this means the skills to hunt, to gather or to farm, or if it requires to earn money and to buy food, or even to steal it. But a human's wise intelligence first evaluates the goals in a complex mental context, before applying instrumental intelligence towards reaching it. A human can for example decide, if he wants to spend money on food or on a book, if he wants to eat or to lose weight, if he wants to acquire food for himself or for some other person.
Entry 648 was about a chimpanzee's amazing cognitive accomplishments. But he is not the only animal with astounding achievements:
http://www.zoo.ox.ac.uk/group/kacelnik/lb_movie_s1.mov
This movie shows, how a cockatoo solves a complicated puzzle to get access to food.
This is once more an example for what I consider the fundamental difference between what I will call instrumental intelligence and wise intelligence. This difference is often overlooked and confounded. Animals can show some form of instrumental intelligence. But wise intelligence requires cognitive abilities, which are found only in humans, and by far not in all of them.
Ayumu and the cockatoo will repeat difficult cognitive task, whenever their body is inclined to eat the reward. Nothing else has an impact upon the application of instrumental intelligence to a perceived need and to the goal of fulfilling it. Attempting a task, no matter the amount of instrumental intelligence needed, is not a decision, but an automatic reaction to a need or an urge.
A human too usually needs some instrumental intelligence to acquire food. No matter if this means the skills to hunt, to gather or to farm, or if it requires to earn money and to buy food, or even to steal it. But a human's wise intelligence first evaluates the goals in a complex mental context, before applying instrumental intelligence towards reaching it. A human can for example decide, if he wants to spend money on food or on a book, if he wants to eat or to lose weight, if he wants to acquire food for himself or for some other person.
Instrumental intelligence is a tool, which serves to pursue goals, which are derived from either instinctive urges or external influences or any interaction between both. These goals are exempt from any rational evaluation.
Wise intelligence also uses instrumental intelligence as a general principle and as much upon the own person as upon others. Goals, attitudes, morals, value systems and behavior are chosen and evaluated by the same rationality and logical procedures as is the subsequent pursuit of the goals. Wise intelligence includes having a theory of mind, and it is more than emotional intelligence, which can be misused to the disadvantage of others.
To illustrate this, here are some examples of humans doing a lot of harm by using instrumental intelligence in the absence of wise intelligence:
- A scientist explores methods how to build lethal bombs for the purpose of serving his religion as a terrorist.
- A scientist designs weapons for war as a means of strengthening his own ingroup.
- PUAs (pick up animals) learn and teach elaborated tricks for the purpose of luring women into situations, in which they can be abused.
- Greedy sales people learn special psychological techniques to get money from reluctant customers.
- Power hungry politicians use elaborate intrigues and strategies to get to the top of hierarchies.
There are several different patterns of dynamics, when people apply instrumental intelligence as a means of asymmetrically pursuing goals. Some believe, that the fittest and strongest are naturally entitled to privileges, whenever they can achieve them. They outrightly reject the concept of equality. Some believe at least, that everybody competes and fights for benefits adn that doing the same to protect themselves legitimates it.
George Simon's (entries 629 and 661) disturbed characters are of these patterns. The persons are aware of what they are doing and that many targets and victims disagree with how they are treated. There is no denial of the collateral damage caused.
While targets and victims are usually not able to stop such behaviors, they often have the option of avoiding, what can be easily recognized.
Simon's disturbed characters do not accept the validity of other people's rules for themselves, but they pretend to do so, when this serves their purpose.
When disturbed characters fail to succeed, they are usually aware to be the losers in a competition fought with all the weapons supplied by instrumental intelligence.
Simon's disturbed characters do not accept the validity of other people's rules for themselves, but they pretend to do so, when this serves their purpose.
When disturbed characters fail to succeed, they are usually aware to be the losers in a competition fought with all the weapons supplied by instrumental intelligence.
