Few people agree on exactly what “intelligence” is or how to measure it. The
nature and origin of intelligence are elusive, and the value and accuracy of
intelligence tests are often uncertain. Researchers who study intelligence often argue
about what IQ tests really measure and whether or not Einstein’s theories and Yo Yo Ma’s
cello playing show different types of intelligence.
Intelligence is a particularly thorny subject, since research in the field has the
potential to affect many social and political decisions, such as how much funding the
U.S. government should devote to educational programs. People who believe that
intelligence is mainly inherited don’t see the usefulness in special educational
opportunities for the underprivileged, while people who believe that environment plays a
large role in intelligence tend to support such programs. The importance and effects of
intelligence are clear, but intelligence does not lend itself to easy definition or
explanation.
