INTELLIGENCE IS NOT ENOUGH – BE WISE

 

                               A wise fox will rule over an intelligent wolf.

 

We all have grown up in awe of 'intelligent' fellow students in school & college, colleagues in the office or social circle. Most parents have always wanted to know their child's Intelligence Quotient (IQ). 

 

Let us have a closer look at Intelligence.

 

Unarguably, intelligence is vital for every individual's growth (in conventional terms). Webster's dictionary defines Intelligence as "the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations." Cambridge says it's "the ability to learn, understand, and make judgments or have opinions based on reason."

 

Intelligence is our ability to think logically, understand, create, reason & solve problems. American Psychologist Robert Sternberg proposed a theory of Intelligence known as the "Triarchic Theory of Intelligence." His theory suggests that "successful Intelligence is made up of three types of Intelligence: Analytical Intelligence (ability to solve problems), Creative Intelligence (ability to use experience and skills to adapt to new environments), Practical Intelligence (ability to adapt to changing environments).

 

Over time, with the changing milieu of society, we have expanded our compass of intelligence. Emotional Intelligence (popularised by Daniel Goleman) is our ability to manage emotions and empathise with others. Spiritual Intelligence is our attitude towards the spiritual quest. Social Intelligence is our behaviour & involvement in social media.

 

Knowledge is the acquisition and acceptance of facts, while Intelligence points out the implementation of the facts wisely and perfectly. The intelligence thus encompasses varied facets of life. It focuses on accomplishing the task. 

 

Why, then, is Intelligence not good enough?

 

Let us think deeper.

 

Intelligence is to know a tomato is a fruit, but not using it in a fruit salad is wisdom! 'Webster's Dictionary defines "wisdom" as the "ability to discern inner qualities and relationships" or "good judgement." The Cambridge Dictionary offers a similar definition, although it clarifies that one uses their knowledge or experience to make decisions and judgements. Often, these decisions and conclusions have to do with "right" and "wrong." 

 

I came across this apt quote - "One who reads every day is intelligent. One who learns every day is wise." 

 

Aristotle believed that wisdom could be used to seek truth and explore things that were bigger than ourselves. He also believed that learning could be used to make good decisions in everyday life. 

 

Being wise is to use our common sense. Wisdom is our sixth sense. Wisdom is to connect the dots defined by Intelligence. Wisdom guides us to consider the consequences of our actions to ourselves and others. 

 

I have been in medical practice for the last 38 years. Having treated many routine and emergency patients, I know that BEING WISE is crucial to a good patient outcome. If interpreted in isolation, seeing shadows in imaging and observing abnormal reports leads to erroneous results. Wisdom demands deciphering the reports that are relevant to the patient's illness. Intelligence tells us the results of information; wisdom decides if these reports are relevant. We need to treat the patient and not the reports! 

 

Levi Strauss said: "The wise man doesn't give the right answers; he poses the right questions." It is crucial to learn to ask the right questions, whether it is about profession, relationships or analytics. Famous Management expert Peter Drucker echoes the same in Men, Ideas & Politics - "The most serious mistakes are not being made as a result of wrong answers. The truly dangerous thing is asking the wrong questions." Wisdom is not asking rhetorical but genuine questions. To get wiser by getting the correct answers, we must pay attention to our questions.

 

Wise people are great listeners. It is said that knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens. We must be patient and attentive to be in the same flow as the speaker. Many people listen to the reply and do not understand. In my profession, a good doctor has to be a good listener. Every patient tells us a diagnosis only if we pay genuine attention. Plato quipped: "Wise men talk because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something." Many times, it becomes more critical when to say than what to say. A wise person has this discretion. 

 

Let me end with what Henry Thoreau said – "To know that we know what we know and that we do not know what we do not know, that is wisdom.

 

Be wise and not just intelligent!