The Making of Intelligence

by Ken Richardson

Overview

What do we mean when we describe a person as intelligent? The concept of intelligence wields a powerful influence on research dealing with the brain and on how individuals progress in society. Yet, remarkably, there is no scientific consensus about the meaning of intelligence. In The Making of Intelligence Ken Richardson looks at how intelligence has been characterized and measured in the past, explores current trends in our understanding and uses of the concept, and predicts what form these trends will take in the future.

He argues that intelligence is not solely predetermined by such factors as genes and environment; it is also created by self-organizing interactions within evolved developmental systems. Considering the implications for society of this dynamic-systems approach, Richardson predicts that as our understanding of the relationship between the mind and the brain improves, the notion of intelligence as a single concept may disappear altogether.

Richardson takes particularly sharp aim at IQ tests, exposing the reductionist, oversimplified, and contradictory notions of intelligence that they presuppose as well as the social repercussions of the widespread, unreflecting acceptance of the IQ model in public consciousness.

From the writings of Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer on evolution and adaptation to the reflections of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky on logical reasoning; from the formulation of early IQ tests by Francis Binet and Henri Simon to their recent, provocative rebirth in the assertions of The Bell Curve by Charles Murray and Richard Herrnstein, The Making of Intelligence is a lucid, judicious, critical analysis of this controversial and important subject.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231120043
Publisher:	Columbia University Press
Publication date:	08/02/2000
Series:	Maps of the Mind
Pages:	218
Product dimensions:	6.15(w) x 9.26(h) x 0.76(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Ken Richardson is Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Human Development and Learning at the Open University, U.K. He is the author of Understanding Psychology, Understanding Intelligence, Models of Cognitive Development, and Origins of Human Potential.

Table of Contents

Preface
1. The Many Faces of Intelligence
2. IQ: The Misconstruction of Intelligence
3. Does Biology Hold the Key? Searching Biology for Intelligence
4. Computations and Connections
5. Intelligent Systems
6. Constructive Intelligence
7. Social intelligence
8. The Intelligent Brain
Epilogue: Promoting Human Intelligence
Index

Editorial Reviews

The book's big idea is that intelligence is not, as both common sense and professional view would have it, something private inside our heads.... This is a quietly passionate polemic.

Financial Times (London)

A carefully and clearly argued whodunnit.

David Canter

Intriguing.

Guardian

Intelligent. . . . Well-argued.

John Cornwell

The book´s big idea is that intelligence is not, as both common sense and professional view would have it, something private inside our heads. . . . This is a quietly passionate polemic.

Financial Times London

This title launches the publisher's new series, "Maps of the Mind," which aims to offer "a glimpse of the extraordinary innovations of science's last frontier." In fact, this title does the opposite, arguing that most of the so-called "innovations" in the study of intelligence, both human and animal, are extremely ephemeral. Beginning with a useful reminder that the very concept of intelligence is unclear, Richardson, honorary research fellow in the Centre for Human Development and Learning at the Open University (UK), moves on to argue that all IQ tests are highly culture-bound, that evolutionary pressures would result in a uniformity of intelligence among humans, not in greater variation, and that the popular "computer model" of intelligence is very limited. Instead, he argues, the concept of intelligence only has meaning in sociocultural contexts. This is a lot for a 200-page book to attempt, but the author does a very good job of providing useful correctives for a number of currently popular "fads" in the cognitive sciences in a concise, readable format. Recommended for most public and academic libraries.--Mary Ann Hughes, Neill P.L., Pullman, WA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\

Library Journal

Noting that there is no scientific consensus on the meaning of the concept that wields powerful influence in research on the brain and in people's place in society, Richardson (Open U., Britain) looks at how intelligence has been characterized and measured in the past, explores current trends, and predicts that the notion will soon fade from scientific consideration. He is particularly contemptuous of the entire IQ movement. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

The book's big idea is that intelligence is not, as both common sense and professional view would have it, something private inside our heads…This is a quietly passionate polemic.

(London) Financial Times

Intriguing.

The Guardian

A carefully and clearly argued whodunnit.

New Scientist - David Canter

Intelligent.... Well-argued.

The Sunday Times (London) - John Cornwell