Dear Ting Fa

To answer this question we must first understand what intelligence? If it is for some intelligence that is the way of the production of educated people is good and so much better. If to others it is the way that trains musicians and that's great. If for others it is to obtain international awards and it is great. Is not intelligence? If I listen to my deep and not my mind I think for me understanding it is to taste everything and have the faculter synthesize. The intelligence can not have mold. It is free  

 Sincerely

FADEL

YES, because genetic and environmental sources contribute to define Intelligence and emotional intelligence.  Physical health and reasonably ideal weight will contribute to career success especially in tough careers like medicine.  I think Prof Kamal and medical docs will agree.

'It's no mystery to successful people that there is direct correlation between sound health & fitness and success in their career and personal lives. Take of moment to recall a successful person you know and they likely show up at the health club consistently, work with a personal trainer, or get up a few minutes early for a heart elevating jog. Successful people like to jump start their day with an abundance of energy and the feel-good endorphins that exercise offers. Recent studies identify the direct correlation between fitness and success. Better ability to focus, improved confidence and enhanced ability to follow through were directly attributed to improved fitness levels according to a 2007 University of Georgia study. '

http://www.briancalkins.com/career.htm

Given nature's diversity, I think the answer is yes, but not necessarily in the 5 ways indicated above?

1. You need to be in physical top shape to enhance intelligence? It depends how much is invested in the physical training.

2. What is your definition of intelligence? Emotional intelligence related to art differs from abilities to memorize or to be successful in IQ tests?

3. It is obvious that access to existing knowledge is required to exploit or change existing knowledge

4. Perhaps it will depend on what kind of Economy you are talking about? How many different types of economy exist, e.g. socially based, materialistic based, religion-based....

5. What fraction of the education process is done in the absence of biological parents? Do professors adopt students as children, e.g. professors becoming culture-based parents?  

Dear Ting Fa

To answer this question we must first understand what intelligence? If it is for some intelligence that is the way of the production of educated people is good and so much better. If to others it is the way that trains musicians and that's great. If for others it is to obtain international awards and it is great. Is not intelligence? If I listen to my deep and not my mind I think for me understanding it is to taste everything and have the faculter synthesize. The intelligence can not have mold. It is free  

 Sincerely

FADEL

Yes, intelligence can be improved. 1 to 5 points mentioned in the question have some incremental impact - intelligent by birth, education, training, and experience. So, every individual has a level of intelligence by birth and that level can be enriched by:

1. General education

2. Education in specified field

3. Training

4. Interaction with a level of parents, peers, teachers, etc.

5. Environmental factors and level of exposure

6. Etc. ... .

There may be exceptions, on which some factors may not apply.

Dear @Marg, let me contribute with some discussions and articles that are available here at Research Gate, regarding the issue You have raised. Hope it will be helpful!

https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_does_primary_school_influence_students_emotional_intelligence

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_intelligence_be_raised_by_education_and_how

https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_we_can_prepare_an_emotional_intelligence_intervention_program_to_improve_EI_of_secondary_schools2

Article Can an emotional intelligence program improve adolescents’ p...

@Eraldo: 'Destruction' is also change, so I think the statement you mentioned is not precise enough? Is destruction a sign of intelligence?

Cheers

Ting Fa,

If only we COULD choose our own parents, as you phrase it in your fine question!  On the other hand, perhaps the fact that we cannot is a blessing in disguise. In a very real sense, we "make" our own intelligence, we give it nuances it lacks in others, we orient it.

In my opinion, the intelligence without friction and the test does not mean anything. Directed and process capacity of some people to have a great effort does not require, unlike some individuals need to develop capacity to process highlights the intelligence

Although there are many types of intelligence, (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence) I believe that intelligence den be improved!

Controversy of Intelligence: Crash Course Psychology #23

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_the_intelligence_be_improved

There is also the artificial intelligence, see e.g. the series “Intelligence” American Television Series, 7/10·IMDb

. 

see a trailer in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjgObuY_EOk

Gabriel Black has a supercomputer microchip implanted in his brain, he becomes the first human to be directly connected to the Internet, WiFi, telephone and satellite data, and gains the ability to hack into any data center and access important information integral to protecting America. In his unique role, he has the backing of an elite cybersecurity agency directed by Lillian Strand, who oversees all missions. Keeping Gabriel safe from outside threats -- not to mention his own recklessness -- is Secret Service agent Riley Neal.

The inteligence can not be improved: it must be imprved. Our best bets for survival do depend on that. 

Of course there are various means to improve it. Some of them have been already mentioned. However, we must take into consideration that - in spite of our cultural tradition - the iprovement of intelligence is not a strategic matter. From a biological point of view, it a question of opportunities! As many as we can figure out, and smack to the point and moment.

Perhaps judged intelligence is environment dependent? The same person might be considered/judged intelligent in environment A, but not in environment B, etc...

Without doubt intelligence is one of the abilities of humans with a plasticity property. It has a genetic basis (common to all human beings) that can be improved, stretched or enhanced and empowered by inputs through education, environmental influence and daily activities.  

The term "emotional intelligence" which I assume is a creation of social scientists or psychologists is a corrective emotional behavior needed to perform duties without being perturbed by external social or environmental barriers. This is  a positive concept that parallels what is called fault tolerance in computers. In old times, computers were programmed to perform from strict codes or programs in which a very negligible error stops the performance of the computer. It was thought that fault tolerance, the capability of computers to function properly with errors of small magnitude or irrelevant errors were thought which again is an expansion of intelligence to perform.  

Regarding a child: I will say, t is not the choice of a child to be from such and such parents and from this and that environment. I am and will always be not by choice but by nature the child of my dear parents. But it is true that, but not always the case , being from good environment has a direct influence on some one to become a better person than the one from almost nothing. But it does not mean people from nothing has no chance of becoming some one, we know several prominent mathematicians and scientists from poor family who became prominent.    

Regarding prizes:  In most cases prizes are recognition made to people who generate ideas that transom ways in which things are done to bring positive change in society. I remember an Indian person who received Noble prize for generating an idea of how lending to poor people can transform lives of many, not by the mathematics he has done.  

Indeed mathematics is an empowering weapon of thinking and imagination to navigate what logical things are out there. An economist will definitely be a better economist by being proficient more in mathematics which in turn enable to think out side of the box to come up with ideas that will bring change in economic conditions of society or economic theory that exists. 

I think yes. It can be honed by proper guidance and education!

I think it depends on the way you define intelligence. Also how it can be measured. Is experience and education part of it or not? Environmental issues with cultural heritage may be part of the evaluation.

Intelligence is defined by "The Free Dictionary" as the ability to acquire, understand, and use knowledge. I may add (and the power to link acquiring, understanding, and knowledge in an optimized manner). I think that the 3 parts of the definition can be & must be improved and this is a mission for the teachers, the family, the government, and the educational media. The 4th part, which I added, requires continuous varying hard training by capable " brainy" persons. Countries, which suffer from brain-drain, will have intelligence decline as can be seen in regions of futile wars.

Dear Ting,

Point 1 matters as good health is important.

Points 3, 4, 5 are very crucial conditions which are difficult to shape.

Point 2 must be essential as to be a real human and not a professional barbarian. However, knowledge on art is dangerous because one can recognise that art, music and literature are more important than science. I mean by creating artworks our humanity can be more perfectly attained.

A latin proverb says: memoria minuitur nisi eam exerceas, i. e. memory decreases if you do not train it. But is the memory the bases of intelligence?

Themistocles knew by heart the names of all his countrymen. And in truth I never heard of any old man who had forgotten where he had hidden the treasure. Philosophers, how many things do they remind even from old? In older people, the intellectual capacity remain , but until  the application and industriousness will remain. Sophocles wrote tragedies to the extreme limit of old age.

Dear Marg, intelligence cannot  be improved only because it MUST be improved.

Dear @Enzo, Dear RG fellows,

Unfortunately memory served little to Themistocles because his very countrymen voted against him condemning to ostracism. They wrote his name on a piece of crock.

So he went into exile and later died in mysterious circumstances.

Have a good night!

Marg

@Marg, it's not important how we die, but how we live. We all live and die. You know the Italian proverb: it's better one day as a lion than one hundred years as a sheep. O. K. a free interpretation may be: it's better a day as intelligent than a hundred years as a cretin. 

Certainly yes, provided that a person is ready to work hard. Sometimes we see intelligent but lazy persons and the only thing that we have to do is to motivate them.

The specific chain of processes by which DNA gives rise to complicated traits like intelligence is not very well understood. Hence, to find any particular genes conducive to high intelligence, researchers would first have to locate a collection of especially bright humans, then see if any particular genes seemed to be unusually common among them.

Higher technology and a complete understanding of molecular biology could ultimately enable the full potential of genetic engineering: Total modification or creation of complex life forms. With this kind of power, the design of the human brain could be completely revisited with the kinds of deliberate complex improvements that evolution is incapable of stumbling on. And there would be no reason to stop with the brain; why not improve the body in other ways as well? This changes to mind and body would mark the evolutionary beginnings of so-called "transhumans", new forms of intelligent life that no longer fit into the homo sapiens sapiens category.

http://www.mitchellhowe.com/QAGeneticEngineeringForIQ.html

See the following link

http://examinedexistence.com/how-to-improve-all-9-types-of-intelligences/

Dear Ting Fa,

I believe that intelligence is not something absolute. I mean that a person can be intelligent for some tasks and useless for other type of work. One can be an important expert in his area and lacking in common sense. It should be distinguished between intelligence and smartness. It seems to me that the intelligence can be improved only by the person himself. One can be trained to do some task but it will not mean that he became more intelligent. A good example can be contemporary programs for playing chess. Nowadays there are several chess programs that play chess better than any grandmaster. But it will be incorrect to say that those programs are intelligent or more intelligent than any chess player.

Dear Discussant,

Your answers were sharp and interesting, but one of my questions remained in the shadow. Is the intelligence improved by the interdisciplinary approach?

Yes, intelligence can be improved by the interdisciplinary approach. For example, in Universities we offer open electives across courses of study. So, science student who is very competent and intelligent in physics/chemistry but poor in  behaviour and interpersonal aspects. Behavioural competence and intelligence may be increased by studying humanities subject.  

Dear Ting Fa,

Interdisciplinary approach will supply people with a broad information. however getting information is not "intelligence". Intelligence is rather the creative  and smart use of informations. It have been said that the human intelligence is 90% complete by the age of 4, the other 10% is for the whole remaining life! From this it is clear that "intelligence" is not identified with richness of information acquired! 

Dear @Ting, my previous answer was about intelligence! Beneath your question, the emotional intelligence scheme appeared! Regarding EI ( it refers to the ability to distinguish and label emotions properly and the use emotional information to guide behavior), there are the ways to improve emotional intelligence, of course! 

How to Improve Relationships and Interpersonal Intelligence is next reading! "Every single person is born with a personal style pattern that influences their preferences. Self-awareness of personal style and values is so important for success that it transcends age, intelligence, education, profession, and job level."

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/3-ways-to-increase-your-emotional-intelligence.html

http://www.pressreleaserocket.net/how-to-improve-relationships-and-interpersonal-intelligence-right-now-crg-has-created-a-book-that-will-show-you-how/60489/

Dear Ting Fa,

I share the opinions of my dear colleagues about the “interdisciplinary approach”. In my post I have not answered to your questions point by point because some of them need reflections which have nothing to do with your question. Anyway let me clarify point 4 of your question. First of all, to win a prize doesn’t mean that the winner is more intelligent than others who don’t win. Do a mathematician has high chances to win a Nobel Prize if he starts to work in economics?

My answer is no. In order to work in economics one should be accepted by economists. If economists accept a person with very strong mathematical background as equal then they will be in disadvantage. In the best case they will prefer such a person to work for them. The person who accepts such arrangement cannot pretend to win a prize. There are known cases when some mathematicians have won the Nobel Prize. These cases can be qualified as exceptions from the rule.

Dear Ting Fa,

Today I received the attached file from RG member (Mehdi Dadkhah) may be you found it internsting

Thanks

Dear Kazaros,

if you type (Google) the keywords Noble Prize, Economics and Mathematics, you find  (periodically) a lot of protests from economists for the award of Noble to mathematicians or similar (econometric). Although a Noble prize that I admire (Krugman) defends the choices of Stockholm.

Dear Ali,

Recommended behaviors are due in part to economic interests and partly to show us a way to have a good performance, both physical and mental or cultural. Even if these recommendations are made in good faith, they follow a mainstream and are subject to the current state of knowledge. Fortunately, each of us is free to decide by himself.

Best regards.

Dear Ting Fa,

Thank you for the information. It should be mentioned that a researcher who dedicated several years to investigation can learn and understand big amount of information in relatively short period of time. To say that such a person has no diploma in economics is not a serious argument. I can assure that to switch between some areas in mathematics can be more complicated than to switch to some other area of knowledge.

"Genes" have never been put in power, but they should have been so in the interest of all mankind.

The genius has always put his inventions at the service of the power of men less intelligent than him, who often have used and use inventions created for peaceful purposes to commit murders.

Having a single world government is the only way to save humanity, it could be democratically controlled by persons acting in the interest of the people, could become a model of freedom and adopt the Declaration of Human Rights as a World Constitution, with the United Nations as a supervising authority of this world government it could work very well lead us eventually to Geniocracy.

Geniocracy, Author: Rael, Italian e-Books

Dear Kazaros,

often fundamental subjects such as mathematics and chemistry are considered "instrumental" by others. The mathematicians and statisticians that lend themselves to act as a support are considered to be simple water-carriers. It also happens to agricultural economists with agronomists. Hardly one who collaborates is considered the leader. The trouble for the great mathematicians, who are few, is that there is no Nobel Prize for mathematics, but only the Field Medal, but it must be acquired before 40 years of age.

See the case of Nash that has not won the Field Medal because the theorem has already been proved by De Giorgi and so he has had 25 years later the Nobel Prize for Economics.

It is paradoxical that Von Neumann and Morgestern the real geniuses of game theory have not won the Nobel prize for economics because it had not yet been established.

Why was not established the Nobel Prize for mathematics?

The Gossip insinuates that Nobel was angry with Mittag-Leffler for jealousy towards his wife.

Have a good night

Marg

Good "genes" are the essential dowry of "geniouses".

In my previous asnwer I used the term "genes" to say "geniouses". @Marg, has been a good friend to me, since she noticed it without highlighting my error.

Dear Ting Fa: Thank you for this excellent question. My perception is that all qualities of a human being can be always improved. It depends also from what intelligence means in each circumstance and/or for each person. With respect to the neurological capacity and neuronal activity, perhaps a neurologist could give a more exact answer.

Dear Roland & Dear RG discussants,

In my opinion introspection is essential the process of knowledge creation and innovation. Generally the greatest minds (phiilosofers, poets, painters, musicians, scientists etc.) need to stay alone long time to concentrate themselves and succeed in their innovative purpose.

Have a very nice evening!

I am fully agree with @Fadel that the intelligence can not have mold, as well as Dear @Eraldo that iintelligence is the ability to change, and I ad with intelligence is the ability to adapt.

I take the example of the relation between music and intelligence. My answer is yes and here is why:

1. Learning ,music is like learning math. It starts with the basic seven notes and eventually helps to connect the abstract with the reality. Like for example, you have compositions that are ideal for the evening sunset or for showing agitation or even for expressing love. This mental ability enhances what we call 'spatial intelligence'. Studies show that people with better spatial intelligence are more intelligent.

2. Music also helps a person to 'stabilize' his inner self. When your inner self is calmed and the mind allowed to rest, its ability to concentrate is enhanced. Concentration enables advanced absorption and therefore better intelligence. The simplest example is playing of soothing music in shop floors and work spaces. Studies have proved that music enhances productivity which is actually the intelligent application of knowledge.

Hope this helps. Have  a great day.

Dear @Roland and Dear @Srinivasan, I learn many thing from you all....... ;)

Hum... Like some colleagues suggest it, intelligence is a construct (hypothetical one), so all depends on your theoretical stance. Basically, like Sternberg (1990) I do think that intelligence theories are methaphors, some of them being recognized by the discipline (Psychology as represented by the APA), others, like Gardner's multiple intelligence model, not by fault of serious empirical foundations. If you consider inelligence theories from their initial social and méthodological basis, one might say yes, it mignt be imprioved, in facts, not the intelligence per se (hypothetical constructs cannot be directly observed) but its measurement relationship with, for instance the school performance, school learning domains and intelligence components of the "G" factor for instance beiing both manifestations of the same cognitive abilities. For what is related to the very popular in education but very hypothetical Gardner's model components... just read:  http://emilkirkegaard.dk/en/wp-content/uploads/Inadequate-evidence-for-Multiple-Intelligences-Mozart-Effect-and-Emotional-Intelligence-Theories1.pdf

http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard_Roberts2/publication/5907081_Human_abilities_emotional_intelligence/links/0912f50c9e09b01190000000.pdf

http://www.unh.edu/personalitylab/Assets/reprints-public/RP2008a-MayerSaloveyCaruso.pdf http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arla_Day/publication/223096839_Assessing_the_predictive_validity_of_emotional_intelligence/links/00b49518d1057404b4000000.pdf

Article Human Abilities: Emotional Intelligence

Article Assessing the Predictive Validity of Emotional Intelligence

There are two factors that greatly affect intelligence:

1. Heredity

2. Environment

Whichever has a bigger influence --- remains a debate until now --- because some proved that heredity has a bigger influence on intelligence ---- while others showed the opposite ---

The important point is that --- the interplay of both heredity and environment is essential for maximum development of the intellectual abilities of the individual.

Other factors like culture, education, sex, health, race, socioeconomic status, etc. also affect intelligence.

This is fine article about intelligence and age, about fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence, factors influencing both...!

https://boomerwomaned.wordpress.com/tag/fluid-and-crystallized-intelligence/

In India, Joint family system enhances the social intelligence of members!

Every parent would like to see his or her child excel. When parents give the right kind of stimulation even an average child can excel. On the other hand, if there is a lack of stimulation, even a bright child will not reach its full potential

http://www.indiaparenting.com/intelligent-child/91_444/intelligence-can-it-be-improved.html

How actively one interacts with the environment, --- helps in improving intelligence.

You can increase your intelligence: 5 ways to maximize your cognitive potential

http://etherealmind.com/response-you-can-increase-your-intelligence-5-ways-to-maximize-your-cognitive-potential-scientific-american/

Dear Professor Roland Moraru has raised an important issue concerning the end use of intelligence. If we , as scholars, work hard on improving intelligence in our students without an "ethical" context, then our process will not be ultimately constructive. There are students who learnt the use of smart phones very well but at the end, they utilized that in more hidden ways of cheating during exams.

Use of aids to support in exams is "use of intelligence" by the students; to curb such and prevent such recurrence is of the teacher.

Therefore intelligence innovation is continuous in evolution.

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function''.

 --- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Intelligence is like a candle that needs to be turned on. For me understanding is the candle but which must necessarily serve. And for that it should be lit to enlighten us. In sum intelligence necessarily require the provision of sensitive and emotional fiber that inhabits our hearts

Intelligence is something innate, but scientists have conducted many tests to develop it. From these experiments, Gwillym Roberts experience which gave a mixture of Annasralgmaiah (vitamins and minerals) to a group of students to measure IQ before and after the experiment and found that IQ has risen ten points.

And the experience of Stephen Schoenthaler, John Yudkin,and Hans Eysenck included 615 boys. They gave them a much lower amount of nutrients or vitamins and minerals. Results showed increased IQ about twenty point.

Truly great madness cannot be achieved without significant intelligence.

Henrik Tikkanen

“Intelligence is not to make no mistakes, but quickly to see how to make them good.”

--- Bertolt Brecht

But, intelligent people learn from their own failures. Such self-feedback is characteristic of an intelligent people. 

Intelligent people take feedback as positive not criticism.

Without humility with respect to knowledge, capacity of hearing and understanding the others, and with absence of will of learning, it will very difficult, if not impossible, improving intelligence? Human weakness, ignorance and stupidity must be understood and minimized patiently. In my opinion, indispensable impersonal scientific criticism may be transformed by human stupidity, directly or through attempt of manipulation, in personal disputes (and eventually even arrogance and little wars?).

With many years of teaching experience, I can say that, in my opinion, an enormous capacity of intelligence is there in every human being, and intelligence can be always improved.

Intelligence is spread,  the relative importance of cognitive diversity and individual ability for collective problem-solving and predictions

• Democratic participation
• Deliberation:
• Representation as a projection of cognitive diversity
• Majority Rule
• Rational Irrationality and Systematic Cognitive Biases

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/ppe/documents/Landemore_DemocraticReason_Article_Version_for_UPenn.pdf

I don't believe in the concept as intelligence.

but perception and consciousness are two real concepts.

be aware of things and perceive them in their Realities.

@ Baha-eddine

I agree with your answer because intelligence without consciousness has no value

With the given level of intelligence, --- education, training, and experience may help in improving intelligence.

From team synergy - Deliberation assumes a certain quality of conversation that supports people learning or reasonably shifting their perspectives as they proceed. 

http://www.co-intelligence.org/deliberation.html

Interdisciplinary approach enhances the quality of intelligence.

intelligence is this unifying power of the sensitivity of the analysis , generosity and psychology

Research in the psychology of intelligence and cognitive processes has established that spatial thinking is the principal complement to verbal thinking. Spatial thinking helps reasoning in domains that are not, on the surface, obviously spatial. For example, spatial

metaphors and diagrams can be used to understand ordered relations or complex hierarchical relations Venn diagrams are used to solve logical problems

http://spatiallearning.org/publications_pdfs/4nora.pdf

Intelligence can be refined and sharpened by fruitful interactions and relevant experiences.

Sharpen Your Mind:10 Tips for Increasing Intelligence! One of suggestion is to 

Challenge Yourself : "One enemy of intelligence and mental sharpness is our propensity to fall into overly rigid, daily patterns. It is one thing to keep a schedule, or to plan out the events of your day. What we're talking about is having the exact same routine, nearly every day.

Falling into rigid patterns promotes mental passivity, or the opposite of stimulation. At the top of this article we spoke about neurologists agreeing that the key to sharpening your mind is to increase mental activity. Same old, same old is no way to accomplish this.

Instead, we recommend mixing things up a bit. Challenge yourself by participating in new activities. Join a softball league, a reading club, or even a theater group. At the very least, play around with your daily schedule. The point is that too much regimen can dull the senses..."

http://activerain.trulia.com/blogsview/227838/sharpen-your-mind-10-tips-for-increasing-intelligence

@ Ljubomir

This view is right. Intelligence is malleable and has several attributes in synergy with the spark is the synthesis

Dear Ljubomir Jacić ,

Yes you got the key point.

We can't define the limits of intelligence!

How Physics Limits Intelligence!? Good reading or listening!

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/how-physics-limits-intelligence-11-06-17/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brain-web-exclusive/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-limits-of-intelligence/

Herbal formulations for enhancing memory power

Mix Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) powder with Saraca indica (Ashoka) bark powder in equal amounts. Administer 5g of this formulation to the patient everyday. This formulation is said to be effective for improving mental clarity, confidence, intelligence and memory recall.

http://scholarsresearchlibrary.com/ABR-vol1-iss1/ABR-2010-1-1-41-46.pdf

Inspired by previous answer, I am bringing an example of immoral use of drugs that "enhance intelligence"!!!

"Many students, nationally and globally, are turning to “smart drugs”(nootropic drugs). Nootropics drugs are marketed for certain medical conditions and are alleged to improve one’s mental performance. People who take nootropics for a reason other than their approved indication believe they may help reduce fatigue or increase alertness.

The general consensus is that their use is immoral, unfair on those who perform honestly and, above all, dangerous..."

http://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/opinion/comment/enhanced-intelligence-the-rising-use-of-smart-drugs-among-students/11017908.article

Researchers discussed two approaches to improving intelligence:

1.  that involved cognitive training and

2.  that focused on pharmacological interventions

In a review of the attempts to improve intelligence, --- researchers found that 40 to 60 percent of those attempts were not successful.

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2011/july-august-11/improving-intelligence.html

Dear @Subhash, this is @Roland's contribution form the second page!