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Re:Human-Level Intelligence or Animal-Like Abilities? (2018) by chongli on Monday June 08, 2020 @01:39PM (#23458726)
The theory of multiple intelligences is the work of Howard Gardner [1]. The core of Gardner's thesis is that there are weak correlations between these different abilities. Research shows the opposite: there are strong correlations between them [2]. This indicates that there is an underlying meta-ability that explains all of these different abilities. This meta-ability is usually called g and it's tested with IQ tests.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligenc...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligenc...

Re:Human-Level Intelligence or Animal-Like Abilities? (2018) by api on Monday June 08, 2020 @02:53PM (#23459539)
> This indicates that there is an underlying meta-ability that explains all of these different abilities.

It suggests that such a meta-ability might exist, but doesn't prove anything. It's also possible that these abilities are discrete but are correlated because they're subject to selection as a package... sort of like how physical coordination and endurance are probably selected for at the same time.

In any case the existence of such a meta-ability doesn't mean intelligence is one dimensional unless you re-define intelligence so as to exclude everything that can't be tied to that ability.

Re:Human-Level Intelligence or Animal-Like Abilities? (2018) by chongli on Monday June 08, 2020 @03:01PM (#23459645)
It's also possible that these abilities are discrete but are correlated because they're subject to selection as a package

It is also possible, but there's no evidence for it. There's no evidence for any of Gardner's work. The biggest criticism of his work is that there's no empirical basis for the classification of his "intelligences." Gardner even admits to this, saying the choices are the work of an "artistic judgment" [1].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligenc...