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(Factors/which
determine Levels of Human Intelligence)
Fifth Chapter of Book “Intelligence” by Rana Saeed Ahmad
The branch of knowledge which discusses Human Intelligence is called
Psychology. In Psychology, the definition of Intelligence is present and
formula of its assessment is available. But factors/causes which
determine different levels of Human Intelligence are hardly discussed. I
have keenly studied several books of Psychology in English and Urdu but
have not found sizable mention about such factors in any book. It is
rather matter of astonishment for me that such an important subject is
not given due importance. Hence, keeping in view the importance of these
factors I have included and illustrated them in my book. But the thing
worth telling is that what I have written in this respect is my own
research and effort. Therefore, there are many possibilities to add,
amend and improve the subject.
Of course, it is a difficult, complicated and time-consuming job to
understand and collect the factors and causes which produce different
levels in human intelligence, but it is more difficult to put them into
black and white.
As already described, neurologists have succeeded in discovering
different parts of brain and their functions through medical check ups,
operations, modern equipments and machines to a particular extent so
far: however they have not been able to understand completely as how
intelligence comes into existence or is produced (as the case may be) in
the brain: how its level gains low or high stage: what are the
differences in the structure of the brain which make one person a
foolish, second person an average intelligent and third person a genius.
An important and basic law of the nature is that no incident takes place
and nothing is made without causes and reasons and that every incident
and thing so made shall produce its effects and results. This law is
called “Law of Cause and Effect”. The Creator of the universe has made
several factors and causes in order to produce differences in the
intellectual levels of the members of humankind. Now, it is our profound
duty to find and understand these factors and causes of differentiation
in our intellectual levels. In order to fulfill this duty I am writing
this chapter and to stand by your duty, you should read it carefully,
thank you.
Law of Cause and Effect: Law of Cause and Effect is an important law of
nature. The universe, the earth, life and all other things have been
created in accordance with Law of Cause and Effect. When the Great
Creator of the universe orders the creation of a thing---may it be a
star or a particle, a mountain or a grain, a man or an ant, the lowest
intellectual level or the highest intellectual level---His order happens
to be comprehensive and final in enforcement. And, all the forces and
laws of nature set to work to make that thing. Soon, that thing not only
comes into being but rules and laws of its creation come into existence.
Thus, procedure of creation of that thing in the future is finalized.
The factors, which determine the Human Intelligence and make it low or
high, may be divided into three kinds. The first kind is “Natural
Factors” and it includes Time, Physiological Environment and Heredity.
The second kind is “Personal Efforts” and it includes Observation,
Imitation, Exercise, Education, Experimentation, etc. The third kind is
“Social Factors” and includes Nurture, Training, Education, Balanced
Diet and other facilities.
Time (First Natural Factor)
Time is one of the greatest forces of the nature. The universe, in which
our earth is situated, has been created according to the schedule of
time. Whether it is an atom or sun, a grain or a mountain, an elephant
or an ant, an animal or a man, time plays an important part in the birth
or death of all. All laws of nature, prevailing in the universe, are
performing their duties according to a timetable. Revolution of the
galaxies, stars, our earth and moon is time bound. In short, the systems
of this universe are running with the help of time and will continue to
run till the end of universe.
Time has also played the most significant part in developing the
intelligence level of human beings. In fact, mankind has covered the
evolutionary journey of intelligence with the passage of time. Today’s
level of human intelligence is the outcome of running of time and future
development of it will be the kindness of time.
Even the intelligence level of an individual develops with the passage
of time because all the factors --- physical environment, heredity,
observation, education, practice, experimentation, etc. --- put their
influences on human intelligence in time frame.
I shall try to explain the topic of time and its effects on human
intelligence in two parts. In the first part we shall see how time
upgrades the intellectual level of an individual and in the second part
we shall study what part time has played in developing the intellectual
level of human race in the history.
What is Time: It is interesting to define the term “Time”. Time is the
name of continuous chain of small moments. As soon as one moment passes
another moment follows it. This process is going on right from the very
beginning and will continue till the end of every thing or even perhaps
after that. In order to calculate the time, the man has named 1 moment
as 1 Second, 60 seconds as 1 Minute, 60 minutes as 1 Hour, 24 hours as 1
Day, 30 or 31days as 1 Month,12 months as 1 Year, 100 years as 1 Century
and 1000 years 1 Millennium.
The idea or feeling of running (passage) of time is produced from the
events that occur in the universe including our earth. Without the
occurrence of events, the conception of time and feeling of its running
is impossible.
Two examples are being presented in order to clarify the concept of time
and feeling of its passage just below: ---
(i)The birth of the holy Christ is an event which gave way to Christian
calendar.
(2)Pakistan came into existence on August14, 1947. From this event we
can find out today how much time has passed since the creation of
Pakistan.
Every child comes in this world with a particular intellectual level
which is called Physiological Limit. The signs of particular
intellectual level start appearing just after his birth. Then with the
passage of every moment the intellectual level of child goes on
developing by means of observation, education, practice,
experimentation, etc.
Most of the
psychologists are of the opinion that intellectual level continues to
develop up to the age of 20 years. Nevertheless, I do not agree with
them. My point of view is that the intellectual level of a man goes on
improving and developing with the help of observation, education,
practice, experimentation, etc. so much so the man reaches a particular
age. The particular age means that stage of old age when the physical
limbs and brain of the man weaken so much that they are unable to
perform their duties properly. This stage of old age varies from person
to person and from nation to nation depending on period of age, physical
environment, heredity and social amenities. For instance in the regions
of hot weather the people reach this old age 25 years earlier than the
people of cold weather region.
Intellectual level is closely related with age. We have often observed
that intellectual level of ten year old boy is higher than that of a
child of one year and intellectual level of a young man of twenty years
old is high as compared to the intellectual level of ten years old boy.
So, in this way intellectual level of a man goes on developing with help
of observation, education, practice, experimentation, etc. According to
my humble opinion, generally intellectual level reaches the stage of
maturity at the age of 40 years.
I have two strong reasons for forming such an opinion: The first reason
is that the intellectual capabilities reach near the Physiological Limit
due to which man gains potential of adjusting himself with the physical
and social environment. Furthermore, by that time man achieves the
capability of differentiating moral and ethical values and gets the
knowledge of his rights and duties. The second reason is that Allah
Almighty has entrusted the prophet-hood to his beloved personalities at
the age of 40 years. Similarly, in many countries for highest posts
(Prime Minister and President) 40 years of age is a necessary condition
for candidates.
As already mentioned, intellectual level depends upon the length of age.
The general principle is that a person who enjoys longer age his
intellectual level will be higher than that of a person of shorter age.
For instance, a person who dies at an age of 40 years his intellectual
level will be higher as compared to a person who dies at the age of 20
years.
This principle also applies to nations. The nations having more average
age get higher intellectual level as compare to the intellectual levels
of nations having lesser average age. The reason behind this principle
is very simple and logical. The nations of long average age get more
time for observation, education, practice, experimentation, etc. ---
which are the essential constituent factors of higher level of
intelligence --- than the nations of shorter average age. In support of
this principle, I give you the example of Eight Great Countries (G.8
group) i.e. America, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and
Japan. The average age of these eight countries is nearly 80 years.
Thus, the people of G.8 countries get long average age and delayed
particular old age (usually at the age of 70) which means that they have
about 25 more years to develop their level of intelligence than most of
the countries of the world. The period of last 25 years of old age plays
an important part in developing the intellectual level. Because by this
time, the observation, knowledge, experience, etc. of the early age have
accelerated the process of development of intellectual level. Hence,
when it gets 25 years more, the intellectual level develops several
times more rapidly. By taking advantage of additional 25 years, people
of the G.8 countries have been able to make such a rapid progress. And
today, on account of their social, economic, political and technical
development, they are ruling over other countries of the world and have
made themselves the Great Countries.
On the contrary, in the countries where the average age of people is 50
years or less, the intellectual level of people remains comparatively
low. Due to low intellectual level these countries stay behind in every
field of life as compared to the developed countries. In such situation,
the famous law of nature “Might is right” comes into force according to
which the wise rules over the foolish, powerful over the weak and
superior over the inferior. How this law is operating on the earth, it
will be explained in the Seventh Chapter.
Now we shall observe the role of Time from Historical point of view and
shall also see what part Time has played in the intellectual development
of human beings and how?
When we go through human history we can understand the character of Time
in the development of human intellectual level. We also come to know as
to when and how man has covered the distance of development in order to
reach the present intellectual level.
When did the man appear on the scene of the earth? No body knows the
exact and scientific answer to this question. But archaeologists and
historians are of the view that the present man appeared on the surface
of earth about twenty thousand years before.
When did man get intellectual sense? How did he use his intellectual
sense for the first time? Scientifically these questions are too
difficult to answer. Nevertheless, we may see a man using his
intellectual sense only through imagination. Imagine for a moment, about
15 thousand years ago, one day a man was sitting under a fruit-tree and
was looking at the fruit greedily. All of a sudden an idea splashed in
his mind. He picked up a stone and aimed at the fruit of the tree. The
fruit broke down and fell on the ground. The man picked up the fruit and
began to dance.
Perhaps, that was the first use of natural element (stone) by the human
intelligence. Then, with the passage of time intellectual level
developed and man made different kinds of tools from stone. With the
help of those tools he made useful things for his food and defense
against his enemies. Now, these tools can be seen in zoo.
That was the childhood of the human intelligence. He used to live in
caves in order to get shelter and protect himself against unfavourable
and harsh climate. A number of such caves have been discovered so far.
In these caves man-made pictures and human bones have also been found.
The idea of making of his own hut was developing in his mind.
That period extended over about seven thousand years. During this period
the speed of development of intellectual level was very slow. The
historians named that age as “Middle Stone Age”.
Then with the journey of time the intellectual level moved forward and
covered another step and man learnt how to make a hut with the help of
natural elements like clay, wood, grass, leaves, etc. He happened to be
able to make pots from clay, get crops by cultivation, and obtain milk,
meat, leather from wild and tamed animals. The people of that age began
to live together in the form of small habitation. In this way human life
took the shape of society.
That age began about eight thousand years ago and continued for three
thousand years. In that age the speed of development of intellectual
level was a bit fast. This period is known as “New Stone Age”.
After that the wheel of time took human intelligence to a new station
and intelligence invented a new natural element in the form of metal.
The man named it “Bronze”. In that age man used metal for the first time
to make utensil, tools, coins and weapons. In that age the human
habitations also expanded and the social environment flourished. This
period started about five thousand years ago and prevailed for two
thousand years. During that age the speed of development of intellectual
level was a little faster than the preceding ages. The historians named
that period as “Bronze Age”.
A habitation of Bronze Age.
The train of time continued its journey and carried the human
intelligence into an age of revolution, anarchism, confrontation, wars,
etc. In this age, the man succeeded in discovering a strong and durable
metal “Iron”. He used iron for making war-weapons like sword, arrow,
spear etc. The invention of weapons led to matchless confrontation and
great wars. In these wars, hundreds of thousand people were killed and
billions of dollars’ property was destroyed.
On the literary side, during the period of first one thousand years,
concept of wisdom and philosophy took birth in the human intelligence.
And many philosophers and scholars like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle,
Democritus, Anaxagoras, etc. were born in Greece and in our
sub-continent, Buddha and Mahaveer were born. These philosophers and
scholars gave new dimensions and aspects about nature and its contents,
ethics, politics, religion, etc. The ideas, theories, quotations and
teachings they made were so convincing that people accepted them as
correct for two thousand years without tests and experiments. During
this age two great religions of the world “Christianity and Islam”
happened to appear.
That age began about three thousand years before and continued till the
16th century. That period extended over about two thousand and five
hundred years. During that period the speed of development of human
intelligence was much faster than the preceding ages. In fact, this
period was full of excitement, adventure, anarchy, conflicts and wars.
That period is called “Iron Age”.
The wheel of vehicle of time went on revolving and took the human
intelligence into the 17th century for which man had waited for thousand
of years. Prior to 17th century, man had been using the Deductive Method
to make principles and rules about events and incidents of material
world. In the Deductive Method principles and rules are made on the
basis of observation, hypothesis, theory, argument, reasoning, etc. For
example, Aristotle observed that when a piece of meat was left in a pot
for a certain period of time, germs appeared in the meat.
On the basis of his observation he deducted a theory that life comes
into being automatically. Similarly, when (Beldames) an astronomer saw
the Sun, the moon and the stars revolving around the Earth, he presented
a theory in his book that the Earth is the center of the universe and
the Sun, the moon and the stars are rotating around it.
Till the end of 16th century a large number of similar theories were
admitted as true, without research and experiments, by the whole
population of the world. Consequently, due to the adoption of Deductive
Method the speed of material development remained slow during the past
ages.
But during the 17th century and afterwards speed of development of human
intelligence increased tremendously and many great scientists appeared
on the scene of the earth. These scientists tested the prevailing
theories through experiments and discovered that most of them were wrong
and were merely based upon observation, supposition, deduction, logic
and circumstantial evidence. The list of scientists includes Francesco
Rady,Bacon, Hershel, Copernicus, Galileo, Capler, J.S. Mill and Newton,
etc. They introduced the Scientific Method to make principles and laws
concerning the matters, events and incidents of material world. Mr. J.S.
Mill expressed the rules and procedure of the Scientific Method very
clearly. The basic purpose of Scientific Method is that theories derived
from observation, supposition, deduction, logic and circumstantial
evidence must be tested by experiments, so that no possibility of a
mistake is left behind and then laws and principles should be set up. In
this way, these scientists shattered the image and authority of
Aristotle and other philosophers of past ages.
Scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena,
acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous
knowledge in order to find the truth.
Scientific method is an ongoing cycle, constantly developing more
useful, accurate and comprehensive rules and principles.
The essential elements of scientific method are followings:
a) Observations, definitions of the subject of the inquiry.
b) Gathering information and resources observed;
c)Formation of hypothesis;
d) Experimentation and collection of data;
e)Analyzing of data;
f) Interpretation of data and drawing conclusions;
g) Experiments (tests all of the above).
h) Publication of results and
i) Retesting frequently done by other scientists for confirmation.
The conquest of nature had been carried on for the last thousands of
years, very slowly but as soon as Scientific Method was adopted the
speed of conquest of nature increased tremendously.
It is pertinent to mention that all the above mentioned and other
scientists were born in European countries. These scientists made new
principles and rules for the subjects of Cosmology, Chemistry, Physics
and Biology, etc. From the very beginning, man was of the view that
wheel can only be moved by the living being. But by use of Newton’s law
of action and reaction and other mechanism, the scientists moved the
wheel mechanically (without a living being). In this way, man invented
machines by using natural elements for the first time. Soon in England a
department of engineering was set up. This department produced machines
which could do works of several kinds at very fast speed. Now, the hand
work of several days could be done in few hours. Man began to dig out
coal, petroleum and other minerals in mass quantity from the heart of
earth with the help of machines. For the production of items of daily
use, a large number of factories and mills were set up. Bicycles, motor
cycles, motor cars, buses, trucks, ships, airplanes were manufactured
for transportations. In this way Industrial Revolution developed in
England. In the coming years, other European countries including
Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Portugal jumped in the race of this
industrial progress. Soon in these countries exemplary social and
industrial atmosphere came into existence which had never prevailed
before in the human history. After few years Industrial Revolution
reached America and Canada and then Japan. Later on Australia also
stepped into this Industrial Revolution. Anyhow, in 17th century the
Industrialization started and moved faster and faster with the passage
of time and at last came up to the Modern Age of today.
This is a brief story of “Time” how it played its part in the
development of Human Intelligence.
It would not be out of place to mention here that today Human
Intelligence is in its childhood and has not reached at its maturity
e.g. Physiological Limit. Therefore, all the wonderful development and
civilization are immature yet. The author is confident that with the
rotation of the wheel of clock, Human Intelligence would reach near its
Physiological Limit and give its fruit for the benefit and welfare of
mankind one day.
The other factors shall be posted in the next articles soon.
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