The Concept of Intelligence : A Philosophical Analysis

This book is about the concept of intelligence which derives virtually all of its significance from an occurrence use of mental conduct adverbs. But an occurrence or episodic use of mental concepts does not open the way toward viewing mental events as 'ghostly processes,' for as far as the concept of intelligence is concerned, the occurrences are publicly observable; the significance of 'intelligence' is predicted on outward criteria. The Concept of Intelligence provides an episodic rather than a dispositional analysis, while at the same time, agreeing that intelligence has 'outer criteria' of meaning. It reinforces the 'nature' as opposed to the 'nurture' side of the popular debate on intelligence by showing what the concept signifies in ordinary language, and so, dovetails with the controversial 'The Bell Curve.'The book is intended for courses in the philosophy of mind, philosophical psychology, cognitive science, analytic philosophy, psychology, psychometrics, and artificial intelligence.

Ira Altman is Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at Queensborough Community College, Touro College, and Suffolk Community College, all in New York.