“ARTIFICIAL.” INTELLIGENCE

This chapter is a critique of intelligence testing; more, it is a critique of the conventional concept of intelligence. After some preliminary remarks about the relation between intelligence testing and the principle of equality of opportunity, an effort will be made to define “intelligence” as it is conceptualized by the general public. I identify a number of unfortunate consequences of the conventional concept of intelligence and suggest that it came into being largely as a result of intelligence tests. “Intelligence” is not some preexisting quality waiting to be measured by intelligence tests but is rather defined and fabricated by them.