For centuries, intelligence has been narrowly defined as the ability to solve problems quickly — a view deeply embedded in education, work, and culture. But a recent article in BigThink documenting a gathering at The Island of Knowledge, held in a centuries-old Tuscan church, challenged this definition. Scientists, philosophers, and artists proposed a broader view: intelligence is the capacity of a system — whether a cell, plant, mind, or civilization — to perceive, adapt, relate, and respond to its environment to remain viable.
This redefinition presents intelligence as relational, systemic, and distributed — embedded in all life and even in some non-living systems. From bacteria navigating toward nutrients to trees communicating through mycelial networks, intelligence appears as a spectrum of adaptive behaviors across complex systems.

Knowledge Letter: Issue: 298 (Subscribe)
Tags: artificial intelligence (50) | intelligence (22)
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Photo Credits: Midjourney (Public Domain)