Understanding is the Essence of Intelligence

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Beliefs

September 15, 2008

Do we really know what we think we Know for sure?

If I understand well Robert Burton, in his book "ON BEING CERTAIN: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not", there are two kinds of knowledge:
- Scientific knowledge that can be verified and that we deeply understand ourselves
- Opinions or beliefs that are so strong that it feels just like knowledge

It does not mean that the later is wrong, it means that it is not knowledge although it feels like knowledge.

It is very difficult to make the difference between these two kinds of knowledge because the result is a feeling of knowing.

So if understanding is the essence of intelligence, then some understanding could also be a feeling of understanding and intelligence is the ability to accept, and function with, uncertain understandings. Understanding that we may not know what we think we know would then be an elevated state of intelligence.

No wonder there is so much suffering on this planet when we so strongly think we know things that are in fact wrong. Decisions are made everyday based on beliefs of the past including decisions to go to fight what we know (or believe) is evil.

Hopefully people such as Robert will undermine these strong opinions but unfortunately Robert is not running for President.

Who do you want for President, someone who is convinced he knows or someone who can question what he thinks he knows when facing important decisions?

Thanks to Jean-Hugues for the link.

Tags: Knowledge, Beliefs, Certainty, Intelligence.

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August 25, 2008

What's the difference between a believer in God and an atheist?

An atheist believes that the Universe created itself.

A believer in god believes that God created himself.

Or

An atheist believes that the Universe always existed.

A believer in god believes that God always existed.

An agnostic does not know what happened and still looks for the answer.

For atheist and agnostic quotes, check:
http://atheistblogger.com/2008/02/15/101-atheist-quotes/
http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_agnosticismatheism.html