It takes many pieces to fit into and complete an entire jigsaw puzzle, so the role of intelligence in modern society should comprise of many intelligences and recognized as such. Merely focusing on the traditional intelligence quotient of reading and writing ( logical and linguistic intelligence) in our schools, a large majority of the general population has been handicapped in society’s assessment of real intelligence.

Since there are many facets belonging to the category of human intelligence, modern society has chosen to focus more and more on logic and language, leaving room for creative thought, reasoning, and even a bit of common sense.  Modern society has aimed to replace the human mind with the cold calculating processes of a logical machine, where there is little room for deviation. This narrow premise limits young people in their ability to think beyond a question that requires only the click of a mouse or button, and an expedient answer is obtained online.

Where intelligence is concerned, machines have taken out the work ethic of pouring over books to find that expletive answer.  Forget about the usage of a dictionary, because if one cannot spell, one cannot look up the parts of a word.  Spell check takes out the intelligence from an investigative mind. 

Whereupon hand and eye coordination now merely serve to compete in video games, young people are no longer able to write in a beautiful cursive hand.  Keyboarding is much faster. Computer intelligence has made the visual world a world of virtual reality, so do people really need to have spatial concept, or has it already been ingrained into a computer?

Intelligence may be mere rhetoric when it comes to words by politicians who speak eloquently, but play linguistic games, exploiting and manipulating words to suit the situation.  Those who are less educated are enthralled by one with linguistic intelligence. Those more analytical will tear the word structures apart to seek the truth, and that is another role of intelligence in modern society.

Becoming politically correct through the right usage of words, has now placed restrictions on free expression and free speech.  Linguistic intelligence is using symbolic words more and more to become weapons of mass destruction, to insult the intelligence of the American public.

To truly recognize the abilities of future generations of young people, schools should address Howard Gardner’s theory of the multiple intelligences (1983) to prepare generations for a brighter future in modern society.  For some, there are seven intelligences besides the two traditional ones. For others, they have added two more to give a fuller picture of all people are capable of, as far as intelligence goes.

Spatial Intelligence - The is the ability to be picture smart, being able to see things in one’s mind’s eye. Obviously, artists, designers, and architects fit well into this type of intelligence. As well, these people tend to do well with puzzles.

Linguistic Intelligence - These people are word smart, people who love to read, are highly verbal and have good verbal recall.  Obviously writers fit into this intelligence quotient.

Logical Intelligence - These people are numbers smart and perform well with abstraction, reasoning, scientific thinking, and working with complex calculations. This has always been considered a traditional intelligence and scientists, engineers, physicists, economists, mathematicians fit well into this category.

Kinesthetic Intelligence - This is body smart, the ability to handle objects skilfully, with good coordination, a good sense of timing, where the body can be trained to respond in a certain way and to have good reflexes.  These people learn how to do something not necessarily through reading or hearing, but doing it physically.  Muscle actually has memory and this is equivalent to verbal memory.  People with kinesthetic intelligence are dancers, athletes, musicians, actors, soldiers, builders, police officers, doctors and surgeons.

Musical Intelligence - People with this intelligence are sensitive to sound, rhythm and tone, usually with good pitch perception. They usually can sing, play, and compose music. These types of people are also highly linguistic.

Interpersonal Intelligence -  These types of people are well-loved.  They are highly sociable, have the gift of the gab, are truly extroverts, and the life of any party.  These people tend to be sensitive toward other peoples’ moods, feelings, motivations, and temperament.  They do well in group situations at work; can communicate well with others; be leaders or followers; learn through discussion and debate. Perhaps writers fit into this category as well.

Intrapersonal Intelligence - Writers fit into this kind of intelligence as well, which is self smart. Introverted or introspective people have the capacity to relate or reflect on self.  Intrapersonal intelligence affords deep understanding of self, strengths and weaknesses.  Psychologists, philosophers, theologians, and lawyers are intrapersonal. These people tend to like working alone.

The last two intelligences are the most recent on the list. A naturalistic intelligence is one that communes with nature and the environment. People who relate well to their surroundings are naturalists, farmers, and gardeners. The last intelligence is existential intelligence, people who inquire about life and its meanings, death and how human beings got here. 

Therefore, the role of intelligence in modern society ought to be more encompassing, recognizing that many intelligences make up the collective human intelligence.