Oxford English Dictionary Definition: having or showing a quick-witted intelligence

Throughout out your schooling years your are constantly being tested and assessed on subjects and the results of these assessments puts you into an informal classing of being 'smart' or 'dumb'. However through out my spare time I have been contemplating how a persons memory and actions substantially take part in determining your school results.

Eidetic memory or photographic memory is the ability to have memories of extreme precision. A popular referencing to this is Sheldon Cooper from the popular TV series The Big Bang Theory has eidetic memory and is able to recall memories from decades ago in great detail. In tests related to SOSE (society and environment or social studies) such as history tests you heavily on important knowing dates, people and events. An average person would not remember all this information the first time they here thus they study until they can remember these dates however their memory can still fail them and they may score 85% on a test based on these dates and events. However a person with eidetic memory may me told these dates and details about the events once and on the test score 95-100% without any extra study or effort to remember these details. Does this make the subject with eidetic memory smarter the person who scored 85% with the extra study. Because of the subject with eidetic memory scored higher in the assessment he would be considered smarter than the person who scored 85% by both peers and their teachers.

For me personally, for one to be smart or intelligent they need to be able to comprehend and understand ideas that require high mental capacity and apply these. For example a subject with eidetic memory may be able to memorise the periodic table in order but may be unable to explain or come up with ideas about what happens after death or how big is the universe. Where as the person who only got 85% on a test based on memorising dates, people and events is able to come up with clear concise concepts and interpretations on these topics such as size of the universe and death.

So which one is smarter? I encourage you all to leave your opinion and create an open discussion about all things intelligence related.

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