Question

do complex math problems without a calculator, recite entire plays from Shakespeare from memory, would you think that he or she is smart? What do you think makes a person "smart?" What does it mean to be intelligent? (15 min)

Answer 1

If someone can do complex math in their head and recite entire Shakespeare plays, I would certainly call them impressive and “smart” in important ways — those feats show exceptional memory, concentration, training, and domain-specific skills (numerical reasoning and verbal/rote recall). But whether that person is “intelligent” in a broader sense depends on what you mean by intelligence.

Intelligence is best thought of as a set of capacities, not one single thing. Common elements people point to are the ability to learn, reason, solve novel problems, adapt to new situations, understand complex ideas, and use knowledge purposefully. Psychological theories divide intelligence into multiple facets: analytical/logical ability, creative thinking, practical (street) smarts, social and emotional intelligence, and domain-specific talents (linguistic, musical, spatial, etc.). Exceptional mental arithmetic and verbatim recall are clear signs of strong working memory, long-term memory encoding, pattern recognition, and practice in those domains — but they mainly show excellence in particular cognitive skills.

There’s also an important difference between knowing or recalling information and understanding or applying it. A person might recite an entire play without grasping its themes, implications, or how to use that knowledge to solve problems or persuade people. Conversely, someone who struggles with memorization might excel at seeing connections, inventing solutions, or navigating social situations. Metacognition (knowing how to learn and reflect), creativity, and adaptability are often better predictors of “intelligence” as it matters in real life than sheer speed or recall alone.

So: yes — I’d regard that person as smart in specific, measurable ways. But true intelligence is multidimensional: memory and computation are important pieces, but so are understanding, problem-solving across novel contexts, creativity, and social/emotional skills. The most useful view is to recognize strengths and limits and to value a range of intelligences rather than a single benchmark.