"What do you think makes a person smarter or more intelligent than their peers?"

:) Something to stir up the YLC forum Ben if nothing else ????

Some people are blessed with super intelligence but on the othr hand they have no nouse.  I'd rather have a sons with nouse than a modern day geek. 

Interestingly, some with Asperger's are extremely intelligent ... to the point of being considered in the 'genius' class.

I know an 11 year old little boy who has Asperger's ... extreme sensory overload.

He is brilliant at science ... is already doing university level science.  He reads 6 books a week.

Also ... there are different types of intelligence.

Howard Gardner described nine different types, other experts have also defined different types of IQ.

Certainly, a person can be very bright and displaying original thought in one area of knowledge, whilst being quite ordinary, even dim in other areas.

Hey Ben,

Must point out there are two kinds of “smart”. Book Smart and Street Smart. To keep it short, I believe what makes someone more intelligent than those around, is having both of these "smarts." Probably the differene is - the “book smart” will use an intellectual approach to make decisions, whereas the “street smart” individual will use his common sense. Many world famous business men made it on street smart sense eg. Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak (Apple founders) Michael Dell (computers) Bill Gates and Richard Branson all reached the top without a college degree. These chaps could be an exception to the rule because many say the majority won’t get anywhere without a college degree. Some say a college degree may help to open the door to a better job, but street smarts are what allow you to succeed once you walk through that door.

If a good balance can be found between the two then IMO you’ve got it made!

"What do you think makes a person smarter or more intelligent than their peers?"

Interesting question!

The question assumes that the test cases are all ordinary and equal. They are peers. Now let's also assume that they remain that way for the purpose of simplification? That is to say none of the "peers" are on their way to somewhere. So then what would be a distuinguishing characteristic between them? Something which makes anyone of them appear smarter or more intelligent? Remembering appearances can be deceiving. In my humble opinion, the answer would not be in the brain but in the heart. In a word "desire." Desire can manifest itself as intelligence. A strong desire can increase the rate of success in a peer group. 

Now if we werent talking about comparisons in a peer group my answer may be completely different. 

also depends on how you define "intelligence".

There are obviously different kinds/types of intelligence.  Howard Gardener in his "Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences" (1983) identified eight types of intelligence, not including savants and perhaps geniuses. 

Music-rhythmic

Visual-spacial

Verbal-linguistic

Logical-mathematical

Interpersonal

Intrapersonal

Naturalistic

Later he suggested that existential and moral intelligence be included.

To discuss why one person is more intelligent than another is far too simplistic.

An interesting site The Edge www.edge.org (the third culture) brings experts in different disciplines to discuss a single topic from each of their unique perspectives.

Another site (of which I have no experience) is The Big Think bigthink.com where experts join in conversation on topics critical to the 21st century.

Whilst "desire" might be applicable ... I think "passion" is much more the case. 

Many know about the man who had a buring desire - an actual passion - to know all about Australian frogs.  He is an expert in this field, and has received a doctorate in recognition of his work.

  This expert never even completed high school, but because of a passion for his particular interest, is now up there, as world authority on Australian frogs.  Truly well earned.