Diversity and Intelligence

“Wisdom is directly proportional to the size of the group whose well being it takes into account.” Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, The Evolving Self Gregory Bateson defined information as “the difference that makes a difference”. When a new bit of knowledge or experience actually changes the way we view the world, it enlarges the scope of our understanding. The world is full of untapped sources of knowledge from which to build a bigger picture of reality. No one view can see it all. Each individual story has something to teach us. When someone else’s background is radically different from our own, we can learn more than we might from someone similar to ourselves. Though it may feel good to have our view supported, growth requires variety. When something different feels true but challenges our view, we need to adjust our model. This is difficult and is why there’s often resistance to a new truth. Rejecting what doesn’t fit an existing view, using up intellectual resources in the effort to discredit what doesn’t match the existing outlook, is protecting a limited picture. The right/wrong way of seeing interferes with acquiring new information. To not get bogged down in defense of one way of seeing frees valuable mental resources for accommodating more, sometimes contradictory, ideas in the mind at once. This and a tolerance for uncertainty are characteristics of high intelligence that we would do well to cultivate. An appreciation of difference leads to the intellectual enrichment of us all as we come to understand how personal experience forms every individual viewpoint. An overview requires as many perspectives as possible. Prejudice regarding what’s different may start too young to remember, but looking at art from different groups can open up experience and be a pleasurable way to get to know another’s way of thinking and feeling. Understanding that every point of view produces valid assessments of some aspect of reality welcomes the many ways of seeing that have been ignored in a world where power has decided what is true. Diversity is important for a robust ecology of ideas. Just like a larger gene pool creates hybrid vigor strengthening survivability, so can a larger pool of ideas invigorate the world of mind. Restricting oneself to a limited group is restricting the growth of personal intelligence. Intelligence is increased by every different perspective added to our worldview. Problem-solving teams in a workplace were found to be more creative when there were different cultural backgrounds in the group, not just because of the different choices from the different experiences offered, but because everyone’s limits were loosened by the variety of approaches, everyone felt more free to think something new. In his book, In The Mind’s Eye, Thomas G. West suggests that the skill of the future won’t be having the right ideas, but ability to revise our thinking as new information flows in. He feels we need to develop “the ability to model reality in our mind” as an on-going project. Hanging on to one model of reality inhibits the ability to grow. Letting go of the idea of one worldview that holds for everyone makes it easier to ride the flow of proliferating information and adjust our image as necessary. Expanding perspective will bring wisdom to our approach to the future. In honor of Black History Month here are artists I love that help me see into another group’s perspective. 1-Njidedeka Akunyli Crosby 2- Henry Osawa Tanner 3- Huey Lee smith 4-Fabiola Jean-Lousie