What Does it Mean to Be Smart?
We all want to be smart, right? But what does being smart even mean? From talking to people all around the world, I've realized something interesting: a lot of us use words without really knowing what they truly mean. Words are like tools we use to share our thoughts and feelings, so we can understand each other better. This post is all about giving a fresh take on what it means to be smart and redefining some big words that often confuse us. By the end, my hope is that you'll come up with your own idea of being smart and use it to make better choices in life.
I'm guessing most people don't always stop and think before they decide things. A lot of times, we just go with the flow (I'm skipping over a bunch of details here, but that's okay!). And among those who do think things through, not many like to question the way they already see the world. Now, there's no clear right or wrong here – it's more like a range of possibilities. And honestly, this kind of thinking might only interest a small group of folks. This is just one way of looking at things among countless others. But what's cool is that you might find a new way to think about being smart from this, and maybe it'll help you come up with your own definition.
But before we dive in, let's take a moment to think about these questions:
How do you define being smart?
Is it something you're born with?
Can you learn to be smart?
Is it about your potential?
Does it depend on the situation?
Is it something everyone agrees on, or is it more of a personal thing?
... Take a sec to think about it ...
Now, here's the thing: there's no one right answer to these questions. The reason is that words don't have a built-in meaning. They're like shortcuts we use to talk about big ideas. Words help us leave out the nitty-gritty details so we can understand and talk about complicated stuff. At least, that's how I like to think about it.
The Basics
So, here's my idea: before we start using fancy words, let's figure out what they really mean. I've noticed that these big words can change depending on who you ask or even on the day of the week. Now, I'll break down three big words I think are super important. But remember, these aren't set-in-stone truths – they're just my way of explaining things simply.
- Model
- Intelligence
- Consciousness
1. What's a Model?
Think of a model as a way to picture the world. It's like a simplified version of something without all the little details. We all have models in our heads, like when we think about things. Even languages and math are kinds of models.
So, what's a good model?
A good model is something that keeps the important stuff but still makes sense and helps us understand how things work.
Models are like tools we use to figure out what's going on around us, whether we realize it or not. A good model helps us see the important things through all the noise, so we can make better choices.
2. What's Intelligence?
Now, let's talk about making better choices. To do that, we need to know what "better" means. Here's where the word "intelligence" comes in. But don't worry, I'm not gonna get all complicated here. I'll keep it simple. Being intelligent means doing things that help us get what we want. What we want could be something inside us, like feeling happy, or something outside, like going from one place to another.
3. What's Consciousness?
Okay, this one's a bit tricky, but let's give it a shot. Consciousness is like being awake in the world. It's when we're aware of what's around us, what we're thinking, and how we're feeling. It's what makes us human and lets us experience the world. The more conscious we are, the more we realize how the past and the present shape how we think and feel, and how they guide the choices we make.
Putting it All Together
So, when we mix all these ideas, being smart is about being conscious of our models and values as we go along and using our intelligence to make them real. Consciousness is like the boss that helps us pick the right problems and arrive at more comprehensive way to model them, while intelligence is the tool that helps us solve them. So smartness is the interplay of all ingredients not just one aspect of it. To me, it's not about solving tons of problems – it's about picking the important ones.