AI Says...
There is a persistent illusion in our societies: the confusion between instruction and intelligence. Yet, these two notions are far from synonymous. One can accumulate encyclopedic knowledge, master rhetoric to perfection, and still be incapable of discernment, humility, or emotional intelligence. Let’s explore this essential nuance that explains so many intellectual derailments.
Instruction vs Intelligence: Two Different Dynamics
Instruction: The acquisition of formal knowledge, transmitted through school, books, or academic experience. It allows one to understand complex concepts, express oneself precisely, and analyze facts.
Intelligence: The ability to adapt to new situations, understand others’ emotions, anticipate the consequences of one’s actions, and demonstrate common sense.
Being educated, therefore, does not guarantee making good decisions or acting with wisdom.
Intellectual Intelligence vs Emotional Intelligence
Daniel Goleman popularized the concept of emotional intelligence, which is based on knowing and managing one’s own emotions and those of others. A brilliant intellect can crumble when unable to manage ego or handle criticism.
Intellectual intelligence: Analysis, logic, abstract understanding.
Emotional intelligence: Empathy, emotional regulation, listening, humility.
Without the latter, the former becomes sterile, even destructive.
When Instruction Becomes an Ego Trap
Some scholars, convinced of their intellectual superiority, fall into dangerous thought patterns, making decisions or adopting positions that reveal glaring gaps in human intelligence. Here are some striking examples:
Alain Finkielkraut: A media philosopher, he multiplies controversial statements on immigration and national identity, fueling social divides instead of calming them. His rigid attachment to outdated ideals shows an inability to grasp the nuances of contemporary society.
Boualem Sansal: A brilliant author and fierce critic of the Algerian regime, he returned to Algiers despite warnings. Believing his notoriety would protect him, he ended up in prison, revealing a staggering naivety about the reality of the authoritarian power he denounced.
Michel Onfray: A prolific philosopher, he often drifts into conspiracy theories or gratuitous provocations. His rejection of nuance pushes him into simplistic stances that reduce the complexity of the issues he claims to analyze.
Bernard-Henri Lévy: A globe-trotting intellectual, he made catastrophic interventions in Libya, where his interventionist enthusiasm contributed to long-term destabilization of the region. His blind confidence in his own vision of good had severe geopolitical consequences.
Ego and Intelligence: A Constant Struggle
Ego is intelligence’s intimate enemy. The more it swells, the more it obscures clarity. True intelligence involves self-questioning, listening, and the ability to admit mistakes. It is built through humility and curiosity rather than arrogant certainty.
Instruction can nourish intelligence, but it does not create it. Wisdom emerges from experience, failures, and encounters. It’s a slow process that requires stepping away from oneself to better understand the world.
Ultimately, it is better to be moderately educated and deeply intelligent than brilliantly, but foolishly, trapped in one’s own reflection.
As Socrates said: "All I know is that I know nothing." Perhaps that is the beginning of true intelligence.